Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the condition was first manifest during peacetime service and is related to such service.

The Veteran's hypertension has not required continuous medication with diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, thus the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101 have not been met.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has ordered additional development as requested.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The Board recharacterized the issues based on relevant case law, but did not address the merits of these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and was not shown to be related to service. The claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. As a result, service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's tuberculosis is being reviewed for service connection, and the secondary conditions of hypertension, peyronie's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, skin condition, and depression are dependent on the outcome of this review.

The Veteran's death was caused by hemorrhagic stroke due to chronic hypertension. The appellant claims that the cause of death may have been diabetes mellitus type II, which is presumed related to Agent Orange exposure. However, service connection cannot be granted on a presumptive basis for hypertension or hemorrhagic stroke as they are not among the diseases linked to Agent Orange exposure. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether diabetes mellitus caused or contributed to the Veteran's death and if his hypertension was related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be related to service or his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service and concluded that the Veteran's current hypertension is not etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of his claimed conditions, including sinus disorder, respiratory disability, acquired psychiatric disability, headache disorder, hypertension, and colon condition or GERD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), and for obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cardiovascular disorders.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for chest pain, claimed as pleurisy. The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a VA medical evaluation to assess the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability and prostate cancer, did not render him unemployable prior to May 1, 1997. The effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits is set at May 1, 1997.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding service treatment records and VA medical records, as well as for information from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran should be provided with a new VA examination performed by an endocrinologist.