Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Board found that there is no evidence of hypertension in service, and the Veteran did not have a pre-existing condition aggravated by any service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia is not service-connected as it was not incurred or aggravated by her periods of active and inactive duty for training.,There is no evidence of a right shoulder disorder during the Veteran's periods of ACDUTRA, nor any current diagnosis.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,PTSD was initially rated at 30% prior to July 22, 2010 and increased to 50% thereafter. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains in appellate status.

The Board denied service connection for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and coronary artery disease as they were not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's rhabdomyolysis is rated at 20 percent, and his hypertension remains at 10 percent. The Board found that the Veteran's headaches are attributable to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent from April 1, 2010 to the present. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date remains pending.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension are all found to be service-connected. The diagnoses of these conditions were made during active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate disorder, hypertension, anemia, and hepatitis C. The evidence did not show that these conditions were caused or aggravated by exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange during active service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for hypertension was denied, and his claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee PFS were also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of service connection for gastrointestinal disorder and hypertension, as well as TDIU prior to August 8, 2005. The initial rating for PTSD from September 22, 2003, to August 7, 2005, is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for hypertension and kidney disorder. However, further development is needed before these claims can be adjudicated on their merits.

The Board is remanding the claims for further development due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. Service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, and hypertension are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred in service, as it was identified during active duty and after.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine, Florida on December 16, 2009 is granted due to the emergency nature of his condition and the reasonable expectation that delay would have been hazardous to life or health.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD has aggravated his essential hypertension beyond its natural course, and thus, service connection for essential hypertension is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's PTSD is associated with his fear of hostile military activity during his service in Vietnam, while his hypertension is related to his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability determination records and providing a VA examiner with specific questions to address. The Veteran's hypertension is being evaluated in relation to service connection on both direct and secondary bases.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and DVT did not develop as a result of his active service or any service-connected disability, and thus denied both claims.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not establish herbicide exposure. The claims for diabetes, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied as there was no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year post-service.