Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence. The Board will consider the new examination results in determining whether service connection is warranted for her claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate VA examinations and further development is required.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his cervical and thoracolumbar spine, left ankle arthritis with pain on motion, hypertension, and posttraumatic headaches were denied. The effective dates for the 20 percent ratings assigned to these conditions have been confirmed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's metastatic ampullary cancer, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were not incurred in or related to his military service.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and morning reports to verify his exposure to Agent Orange in Korea. The VA examiner who conducted the May 2012 mental disorders examination will be asked to reconsider their opinion based on newly added service treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent since August 17, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise with respect to whether the Veteran has experienced very frequent and prolonged migraine headaches that have been completely prostrating and likely productive of severe economic inadaptability throughout the entire appellate period.

The Board has determined that the directives of the September 2011 and April 2013 remands have not been substantially complied with, necessitating another remand for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current joint disorder, and any other claimed conditions are not shown to be related to active service or service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's heart condition and hypertension are being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a bilateral ear disorder, a respiratory disorder (asthmatic bronchitis), and bilateral hearing loss. The claims were decided on the basis of direct service connection without any presumption or exposure to herbicides/radiation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral ankle strain, a psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), lumbar strain, hypertension, and migraines. The issues have been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, effective August 19, 2009. His coronary artery disease is rated at 30 percent, also effective August 19, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during service or within one year of separation from service and is not otherwise related to service.,There is a preponderance of evidence against a nexus between a current gastrointestinal disability, including GERD, and any incident in service. The Veteran was not exposed to asbestos and/or other toxic chemicals during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and retinopathy were not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and examination.,The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and examination.,The Veteran's hypertension is not related to service or diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. It is also not secondary to herbicide exposure, but may be aggravated by diabetes mellitus with nephropathy.,The Veteran's atrial fibrillation is not related to service or diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. It is also not secondary to herbicide exposure, but may be aggravated by diabetes mellitus with nephropathy.,The Veteran's heart disease other than atrial fibrillation is not related to service or diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. It is also not secondary to herbicide exposure, but may be aggravated by diabetes mellitus with nephropathy.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a heart condition, and a skin condition. The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury or disease, or to have been caused or aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.,There is no evidence of a current heart disability for the purposes of service connection.,The Veteran's claimed skin condition was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury or disease, and it is not associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial compensable rating for condylomata. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his hypertension was not shown to have had its onset during active naval service or within a year thereafter, and there is no evidence of a relationship between the current disability and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and hypothyroidism are service-connected, with no presumption or secondary connection involved.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional medical records and provide a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's condition on August 19, 2007 was an emergency requiring immediate treatment. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.