Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's cause of death, cardiopulmonary arrest due to decompensated cardiomyopathy, was not related to service or a service-connected disability. The Board found that the Veteran did not have ischemic heart disease that is presumed to be service connected in veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and it is not causally related to his military service. The Board also noted that there was no evidence linking hypertension to diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding whether hypertension is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his active service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during service in Vietnam. The examiner must provide opinions on direct and secondary service connection.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and hypertensive heart disease, attributing the current heart disability to lead exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to secure clinical records of his initial evaluations and treatment at Paradise Family Health Center, including when he was prescribed antihypertensive medication. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted as he is precluded from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability, but denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran's skin disability is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have onset during active service, was not etiologically related to his active service, and is therefore denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred in or related to his military service and is not secondary to any service-connected disability.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and, as a result, the claim of secondary service connection for right eye disability based on hypertension is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, pleural effusions and pulmonary hypertension are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports and the need for further development of the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service and is not related to any service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection for hypertension is therefore denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee, hands, neck, and back. The claim for hypertension remains pending as new evidence was submitted but does not establish a direct link to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disorder is not service-connected as it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service.,Hypertension, a current disability, is also not service-connected as there is no evidence of its onset during service and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a link to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within a year of separation, and is not related to his diabetes mellitus type II. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension must be denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled Board hearing. His claims for service connection are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing. The issues include service connection claims for various disabilities.