Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's alopecia and hypertension have been granted initial compensable ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to a failure to obtain deck logs from the USS Annapolis, which may contain information relevant to the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and his service connection claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not occur during service and is not related to any service-connected condition, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, and it could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board also noted that the disability did not manifest itself within one year of separation from active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and their relationship to any bilateral knee disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension has been reopened, and he is now receiving a compensable evaluation (30%) for his service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notice for secondary service connection and a need for a new VA medical examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, including as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for hypertension and a TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, provide the Veteran with corrective notice regarding secondary service connection, schedule an appropriate VA examination, and consider the combined effects of all his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to exposure to herbicides, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link between his military service and the condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral pes planus. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether these conditions were incurred during active service.,Obstructive sleep apnea was noted by the Veteran's former spouse who reported hearing him stop breathing while asleep during his time in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left knee disability, left shoulder disability, back disability, brain tumor, headaches, skin condition, hypertension, and sleep disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show that his diabetes mellitus, hypertension with proteinuria (due to diabetic nephropathy), or other service-connected conditions required regulation of activities or insulin use. The Veteran was also found not to meet criteria for a higher rating based on complications.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange during service and therefore entitled to presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2. The claim of service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus, type 2, remains pending as it was not decided in this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and personnel folder. The Veteran is also to be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her systemic scleroderma, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, and/or interstitial lung disease.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities with bilateral Charcot deformities and degenerative joint disease of the ankles and feet result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, allowing him to be granted special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.