Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not present in service or until many years thereafter and is not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new medical evidence indicating the Veteran's current hypertension may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case will be reviewed again after this development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, lung disability, arthritis, left hip injury, and left ankle injury. The reasons were that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year post-service, and no relationship to service.

The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses for the claimed conditions and denied service connection based on lack of a nexus to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period from June 5, 2009, to April 25, 2013. The Board granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) during this timeframe.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected and denied her request to reopen a claim for service connection for a back condition. The July 1996 rating decision denying the reopening of the claim was final due to lack of appeal within the appeal period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for hypertension, shortness of breath due to lung and liver problems, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea and hemorrhoids.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, and was not aggravated by active service or by service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for an extraschedular evaluation for migraines and entitlement to TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and opinion addressing his claim for TDIU, referral of his extraschedular evaluation claim to the Director of the VA Compensation Service, and additional VCAA notice.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, including mitral valve prolapse, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. The decision found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence showing preexisting conditions did not permanently increase in severity during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran is required to provide contact information for her healthcare providers and submit any available medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and allergy disability were not incurred or aggravated by service, including exposure to herbicides. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus has aggravated his atrial fibrillation, and therefore grants service connection for atrial fibrillation as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The issue of hypertension is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's PTSD results in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating of 70 percent prior to September 22, 2011.

The Veteran's asthma was found to have been incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The claim for high blood pressure is pending and the claim for inadequate personality (claimed as nervous condition) is not about service connection at all.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension. The issues of migraines, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and TDIU have been addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records and possibly medical records from Dr. Heath.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for hypertension, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for hearing loss or service connection for either hypertension or obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim.