Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims of service connection for intermittent chest pains, hypertension, tinnitus, and hearing loss have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a valid diagnosis of hypertension and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current heart disorder, including myocarditis or any residuals thereof, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his active service, including presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and skin disorder (rosacea) are not related to service or any incident of service origin, and were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis of the back and left hip has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining English translations of Spanish documents and treatment records from the San Juan VAMC. A VA examination will be scheduled to evaluate his diabetes with hypertension and nephropathy condition, as well as a nerve examination to determine which nerves were impacted in April/May 2010.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service, and is therefore denied.,Service connection for a left arm disorder remains pending as the issue has been remanded.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for hepatitis B before the Board could make a decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or related to his service, and he did not have ischemic heart disease. The cause of death due to hypertension with possible cardiac involvement is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records and personnel records. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's hypertension, which requires continuous medication for control, does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's disability evaluation guidelines.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in the Republic of Vietnam qualifying for the presumption of exposure to tactical herbicide agents under 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(6)(iii). Therefore, the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are denied as they do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and hypertension, finding that there is at least a 50% probability that these conditions are related.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for cause of death. The Veteran's death was caused by cardiopulmonary arrest, secondary to sepsis, secondary to community acquired pneumonia with significant factors being uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have so been incurred. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for personnel records, VA treatment records, and TRICARE healthcare insurance records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension manifested to a compensable degree within a year of separation from service, and thus grants service connection for hypertension on a presumptive basis.