Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's widow is seeking service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, liver disease (including hepatitis C), diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension. The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and seek a medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, and there is no evidence to support service connection for this condition. The preponderance of the evidence supports denial.

The Veteran seeks service connection for coronary artery disease, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient medical opinion regarding possible aggravation of the Veteran's coronary artery disease by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and lumbar spine disorder are not related to service.,There is no evidence of these conditions during service, and no medical examiner has linked them to service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to be related to his peripheral neuropathy of both hands and feet, thus granting service connection for these conditions as secondary to the service-connected diabetes.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include mood disorder, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The claim for hypertension was not addressed in this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and thus denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus is remanded for issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's claims for left leg, neck, right leg, bilateral knee, and hypertension disorders were previously denied. New evidence has been submitted to reopen the neck disorder claim, but service connection is not granted. The right leg and bilateral knee disorder claims are also reopened, but no service connection is granted. The hypertension claim is reopened, but no service connection is granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, a skin condition (chloracne), hyperlipidemia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision was based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and is unrelated to active duty service or to a service-connected disability. The Board finds that the weight of the competent evidence does not attribute the Veteran's claimed disorder to active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had current bilateral hearing loss related to his military service, and also found evidence of a current diagnosis of hypertension. However, the Veteran did not have these conditions during service or at separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and personnel records. The VA audiological opinion will be obtained based on noise exposure as a driver in a Motor Transportation unit.

The Board has ordered further development due to missing records, including private treatment records from the Veteran's service and a copy of his death certificate. The appeal is remanded for these records to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and bilateral lower extremity symptoms.

The Veteran's hypertension was incurred in service and the Board grants his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the appellant did not have active military, naval, or air service for VA purposes and thus is not considered a veteran. As such, service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and hypothyroidism cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension based on chronic symptoms in service and continuity of symptoms since separation. The claim for service connection for uterine fibroids is remanded due to inadequate examination.