Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Board found no credible evidence of in-service diagnosis or treatment for hypertension, and the Veteran's current condition is not related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his hypertension and hypertensive cardiovascular heart disease. A TDIU claim is also on appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension may be presumed to have been incurred in service, as it was manifested within one year of his separation from active duty and required prescribed medication for control.

The Board denied service connection for an enlarged prostate, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension as these conditions are not related to the Veteran's military service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and squamous cell carcinoma, right neck. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his current conditions and his active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, heart condition (bifasicular block), and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). However, the Veteran's hypertension was found to be related to service due to its onset in National Guard service. The heart condition and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia were determined to have a direct relationship with his service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his hypertension, as well as evaluating the status of his service-connected disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, hypothyroidism, a left foot disability, fingernail disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of her VA and private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service or service-connected diabetes mellitus, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension and arthritis were not present until more than one year following his discharge from service, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability. The Board denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, including hypertension, as secondary to the service-connected residuals of an umbilical hernia repair. The Veteran's current heart disorder is not considered service connected.

The Veteran's hypertension did not have its clinical onset in service, and there is no evidence of chronic symptoms related to vascular disease during service. The claim for service connection for hypertension was denied as it does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its clinical onset in service, was not exhibited within the first post-service year, and is not otherwise related to active duty or to a service connected disability. Therefore, service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for sinusitis was denied as the current assigned rating of 50 percent adequately reflects his disability picture.

Service connection for hepatitis B and hypertension was denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or exposure. Service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of a showing of continuity of symptoms within one year after separation from service.,Service connection for hepatitis C was granted based on its relationship to the Veteran's service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease and hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, lumbar spine disability (secondary to service connected bilateral knee disorders), hypertension secondary to PTSD with depression, and an effective date earlier than November 12, 2008 for the grant of an increased rating for PTSD. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD with depression was denied from August 20, 2011 onwards. The Veteran's right knee synovitis and scars residual to gunshot wound of abdomen were not rated higher than their current levels.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, as well as his TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.