Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension had its onset during his period of active service and is related to it. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected hypertension and syncope episodes, which may impact his ability to work.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence. The appeal is granted in this regard.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of secondary service connection for HTN to PTSD is also pending, as well as an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension and renal insufficiency are found to be related to his active duty service, with the renal insufficiency being at least partially due to his hypertension.

The Board is remanding the claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Board has determined that hypertension is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a comprehensive VA examination and consideration of the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development. The issues include determining whether the Veteran can establish service connection for hypertension, which may be related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his combined disability rating is at least 70 percent. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right shoulder, left ankle, right ankle, hypertension, bilateral foot plantar fasciitis with left first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder all had their respective initial rating evaluations determined to be inadequate.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 10 percent disability rating for abdominal scar and granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

All issues are remanded for additional development including obtaining private treatment records and VA medical opinions. The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, skin cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD will be addressed.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is at least as likely as not caused or permanently aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart condition, status-post pacemaker/defibrillator implantation, was not incurred in service and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for hypertension is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining his service personnel records and arranging for a VA examination of his claimed migraines.

The Veteran's heart disorders, including ischemic heart disease, are presumed to be related to his service in the Republic of Vietnam due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension had its onset during active service, and thus grants service connection.