Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Board denied the appellant's claim for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to a total rating of 60%, which is not sufficient for TDIU. The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran is still able to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment despite his limitations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased rating claims related to hypertension, cervical spine disability, right patella chondromalacia, and left patella chondromalacia.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for nephropathy prior to May 10, 2007 was denied. The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected nephropathy from March 24, 2011 remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. Hypertension is found to be due to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, which was secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's spouse has been diagnosed with several conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, essential tremors, osteoarthritis requiring knee replacement and high blood pressure. The Board finds that the evidence shows she requires regular aid and attendance due to her disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypertension is not related to his period of service or a service-connected condition, and thus does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that hypertension is not proximately due to or the result of service-connected diabetes and was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for service connection on this basis was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as his acquired psychiatric disorder and alcohol addiction were likely due to his military service but did not result from it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine its relationship to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the cause of death and the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to be the primary cause of his neurological symptoms in the upper extremities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and irritable bowel syndrome. Service connection for a brain tumor was not established.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active military service and did not manifest within one year of discharge from active duty. The Board also found no evidence linking hypertension to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's hypertension is not related to service and was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's service from December 9, 1963 to November 18, 1975 resulted in an other than honorable discharge. Hypertension and color blindness are not related to this period of service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues except the initial rating of 50 percent for a psychiatric disorder, including a generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD.