Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's cause of death was pneumonia due to Shy-Drager syndrome. The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's Shy-Drager syndrome or hypertension to service, including any in-service antimalarial medications. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death and accrued benefits were denied.

The Board has determined that the claims for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, actinic keratosis, and enlarged prostate are intertwined with the diabetes mellitus type 2 claim. The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine whether he has been granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, and consequently, his claims for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, actinic keratosis, and enlarged prostate.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for retinopathy and an increased evaluation for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran had current diagnoses of these conditions, or that they were related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on the relationship between his sleep apnea and hypertension to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The effective date for awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is set at October 4, 2012.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 6100. However, this rating is not higher than the maximum allowed based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is chronically aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy is manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, and a workload of 5 to 7 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, and dizziness. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records, private treatment records, and VA treatment records. The Veteran's respiratory disorder(s) will also be evaluated by a VA examiner to determine their relationship to service.

The Veteran's death was caused by a massive intracranial hemorrhage due to hypertension and autoimmune blood dyscrasia/hemolytic anemia. The conditions were not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and there is no evidence of their relation to service.

The Veteran's current conditions of nasopharyngitis, pharyngitis, and hypertension do not meet the criteria for service connection as they are either not established or not related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for residuals of rib fractures with current symptoms but no causal link to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and his hypertension claim for secondary service connection to PTSD was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and lymphoma, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities related to service. The Veteran's hypertension is not considered to have been present in service or until many years thereafter, and his lymphoma has never been diagnosed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary disease, and pontine hemorrhage. Service connection is granted for all three conditions as they are found to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, cardiovascular catastrophe from cardiomyopathy, was substantially or materially contributed to by his service-connected hypertension. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The back condition claim was not reopened, and the initial evaluation for coronary artery disease from November 27, 1996 to September 1, 2005 was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his hypertension, which he claims was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's hypertension has required continuous medication but is not productive of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more. The criteria for a compensable evaluation have not been met.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service or any other condition.