Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete medical records and need for additional opinions regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and a lung disability (emphysema) have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for atrial fibrillation and hypertension with mitral insufficiency is being remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether his conditions are caused or aggravated by service, service-connected congestive heart failure, PTSD with major depressive disorder, or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service or service-connected diabetes mellitus and therefore, does not warrant service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, renal cell carcinoma, rectal adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma of the face are not service-connected due to lack of continuity of symptoms since service separation or a nexus between these conditions and herbicide exposure.

The Veteran died from sepsis, respiratory failure, poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the left parapharyngeal area with metastasis, and hypertension. The Board found that these conditions were not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities and seeks evaluations in excess of the current ratings. The case is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as an SOC has not yet been issued.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension are pending as there is no current evidence of record confirming their onset during or within one year after service. The Board will need to obtain updated medical records to determine if these conditions were incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for pulmonary hypertension is denied because the asbestosis, which he has a 100% disability rating for, already encompasses any potential overlap with his pulmonary hypertension.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected, as it is secondary to a pre-existing low back disability.,Hearing loss and hypertension are not service-connected.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension due to exposure to Agent Orange, finding new and material evidence. The Veteran's testimony supports this conclusion.,Service connection is granted for chronic anemia as it may be related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for an appropriate VA examination.

The Board found that the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and thus granted severance of this condition. The Veteran's other claims were denied as there is no evidence linking any current disabilities to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which the Board has remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to herbicide exposure. The case will be returned for an addendum opinion addressing whether hypertension is related to in-service burn pit exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's respiratory condition and hypertension are related to her service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is attributable to military service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were denied as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU were not substantiated by the evidence of record.