Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability and diabetes mellitus, preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. As a result, TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, residuals of a back injury, cervical spine disability, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD) have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension does not meet or exceed the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101, as his blood pressure readings have consistently been below levels necessary to warrant such a rating. As such, an initial compensable rating is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for chronic headaches, a gastrointestinal disability (diarrhea and hemorrhoids), chronic fatigue, inability to concentrate, and hypertension. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered in relation to his military service.

The Board denied an increased rating for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's blood pressure readings did not consistently meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation. The Board also found that the current conditions are not etiologically related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, hypertension, and cataracts. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset in service, was not otherwise related to active duty, and is not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension and depression have been aggravated by her service-connected TBI with migraine headaches and PTSD, thus granting both claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension. The prostate cancer claim is pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA social and industrial survey to assess his employment capacity due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest in service and is not related to service.,The Board also found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's hypertension has required continuous use of medication for control, but does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 7101.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for current VA examinations, as well as the retrieval of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has reopened the previously denied and final claims of service connection for a heart disability (Atrial Fibrillation) and low back disability. The claim for service connection for hypertension is also granted.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of death due to lack of new and material evidence, including regarding exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed due to his in-service exposure to herbicides. The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion on whether this condition may be related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD disability is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from April 1, 2009. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected MDD disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.