Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Board finds that the Veteran's current heart conditions are not related to his service, including a grade I mitral systolic murmur detected in October 1956. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection, effective dates, and CUE motions. The appeal seeking an earlier effective date prior to October 30, 1992, for the grant of service connection for PTSD was dismissed as a matter of law. The March 1993 rating decision was found to have been clearly and unmistakably erroneous in not assigning an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's vision loss is not service-connected, as it is due to his service-connected diabetes. His hypertension is not service-connected and cannot be presumed related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran does not meet the income requirements for nonservice-connected special monthly pension (SMP).

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to service connection for cholesterol, short-term memory loss, diabetes mellitus, eligibility for a non-service connected pension, and TDIU. The claim of service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to new evidence received since the April 2009 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and attempting to contact the appellant's unit. The issues of service connection for bilateral flat feet and hypertension remain on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examination and review of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of an in-service stressor and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorder. If service connection is established, another VA examination will be conducted to assess whether any current hypertension or cardiovascular disability are caused by or aggravated by the service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension was granted on August 31, 2010, the date VA added ischemic heart disease/ coronary artery disease as a presumptive disability associated with herbicide exposure. The effective date is set at this date.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination to determine if hypertension is secondary to service-connected ischemic heart disease and/or posttraumatic stress disorder, and for consideration of a secondary etiological relationship between hypertension and PTSD.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 10 percent rating for hypertension, effective November 1, 2011, as the reduction was improper due to failure to observe applicable regulations regarding ratings that have been in place for more than five years.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Veteran's left ear residuals, including left-sided tympanic membrane damage, earaches, and dizzy spells, are found to be the result of a VA audiological examination in January 2012. The Board finds that these residuals were not reasonably foreseeable.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence showing pre-service existence of the condition or that it was caused by service-connected tinnitus.

[object Object]

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to his period of active duty. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted service connection in conjunction with their already service-connected renal disease. There are no remaining issues of controversy regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain updated VA treatment records, including MRI of the lumbar spine and cystoscopy. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his in-service exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The claim will be returned to the RO for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran was unable to maintain substantial gainful employment from August 2006 to August 2007 due to service-connected disabilities, but has been able to obtain and maintain substantially gainful occupation since then.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (recurring major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder NOS, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.,The evidence shows that the Veteran's obesity, which is linked to his sedentary lifestyle due to his knee disabilities, contributed to his diabetes and hypertension. His psychiatric condition is also likely related to his overall health issues.