Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not decided whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen each individual claim. The initial rating for depressive disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions did not manifest during active duty or due to undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran died from a cerebrovascular accident with contributing causes of hypertensive cardiovascular disease and hypertension. The Board found that these conditions were not related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a chronic respiratory disorder, as well as an increased rating for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The claim for service connection for decreased salivary secretions resulting in 'dry mouth' is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to his service-connected tendon inflammation disability, has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant requesting withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment prior to August 24, 2011. From that date forward, the evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private treatment records from St. Mary's Hospital, as well as an accounting of all periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA for the appellant's Army National Guard service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol was withdrawn. The claim for hypertension, which had been previously denied in April 1975, has been reopened due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran is now assigned a 30 percent rating for his supraventricular tachycardia prior to January 31, 2013, and higher than 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine whether his nonischemic cardiomyopathy is related to service or a service-connected disability, as well as determining the current nature, extent, and severity of his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated at 10 percent since February 2013, based on the need for continuous medication to control blood pressure. The Board found that his blood pressure readings have consistently been well under the threshold required for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service; or to service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have onset during service, was not caused by his active service, and was not related to exposure to herbicides during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within one year following separation from service. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between current hearing loss and military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease or arthritis, is service-connected. The claim for hypertension was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, service connection for hypertension, and earlier effective date for TBI have all been resolved to his satisfaction.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and for examinations by appropriate examiners regarding the nature and etiology of any hypertension, sleep apnea, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy present at any point after the Veteran's August 2007 claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension. However, the Veteran does not have a current disability related to military service or any period of active duty.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for hypertension. As a result, the appeal is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, asbestosis, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.