Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension on a direct basis was denied. The denial of the systolic heart murmur claim is pending as it relates to an appealed issue (secondary to anxiety disorder).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim. The Board also determined that there is clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing hypertension at entry into service and that it was not aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for a new examination to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected sideroblastic anemia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability or hypertension due to service. The evidence shows no in-service injury, and current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, residuals of stroke, renal failure with dialysis, and right eye blindness are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the hypertension issue for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and securing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD with major depression and polysubstance abuse.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a BVA hearing. The issues of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, prostatitis, and hypertension are still pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service, and therefore denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, left and right ankle disabilities, and hypertension were dismissed due to withdrawal. The Veteran does not have moderate limitation of motion in his ankles or any significant pulmonary symptoms related to sarcoidosis. His hypertension requires continuous medication but does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's hypertension was rated at 10 percent since January 12, 1998 to December 29, 2006. Since then, the disability has not met the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, upper and lower extremity disabilities, and bilateral eye disability have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determination records.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of type 2 diabetes mellitus was denied, and his service connection claim for hepatitis C was also denied.

The Veteran's hypertension was not present during service or within one year of discharge, and is not otherwise related to service.,A heart condition (other than hypertension) was not present during service or within one year of discharge, and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea was at least as likely as not incurred during his active service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether or not the Veteran incurred hearing loss and tinnitus during his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining deck logs from the USS DEHAVEN (DD 727) and determining if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. The claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and therefore cannot establish herbicide exposure. The claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II; neuropathy of the lower extremities; hypertension; vision disorders (glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy); and erectile dysfunction are denied as they do not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy; and hypertension were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not increase in severity during service, and therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for this condition.