Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension as there is no evidence of a disease, injury or event during military service on which direct service connection can be predicated.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to have begun during or within one year after her service, and there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service. The Board finds that service connection for hypertension cannot be granted.,The Veteran's right knee disorder has been rated as 10% disabling under DC 5260 due to limitation of flexion. However, the VA examiner found no evidence of instability or dislocation, and the Veteran's range of motion was consistently well beyond what would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, hypertension, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, right ankle and left ankle disabilities, left heel disability, and left shoulder disability were denied as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's current disability picture in relation to his claims on appeal.

The Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected condition, and the Board finds that his stroke, hypertension, and aspiration pneumonia were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the claims of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability, left wrist disability, upper back disability, mid-to-low-back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and PTSD. The Veteran's reports of inservice acoustic trauma are accepted as credible evidence of an in-service event. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the substantive appeal regarding bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The remaining claims have not met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable rating for scars was not addressed as the issue is unclear.,The Veteran's hypertension secondary to prostate cancer has been granted service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for further consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the hearing officer who conducted the Travel Board hearing no longer working at the Board. The Veteran wishes for another hearing before a Travel Board.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and the evidence does not establish a relationship between hypertension and active duty, a service-connected disability, or exposure to toxic herbicide exposure. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. The Board finds the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam and grants service connection for his diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with some conditions receiving a presumption of herbicide exposure and others being granted based on the evidence presented.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypertension was denied, and the Board found that there were no periods during which his diastolic blood pressure readings were predominantly 120 or more. The effective date of service connection for abdominal aortic aneurysm remains prior to February 4, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a left leg disability, and the right thigh shrapnel wound residuals are rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin rash, hypertension, and impaired hearing. The Veteran's skin rash is found to have had its onset during active military service. His hypertension is not considered aggravated by his second period of service. Impaired hearing was noted but the examination results were deemed inadequate.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, hypertension, and an unspecified blood disorder have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is service-connected, but his PTSD claim was denied. The issues of service connection for PTSD and entitlement to an increased initial rating for supraventricular arrhythmia are remanded.