Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's National Guard service records and to verify all periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The claim will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and heart disability, including hypertension and ischemic heart disease, are service-connected. The decision grants these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including diabetes, neuropathy of the feet, hypertension, and a left eye disability. The Veteran asserts these conditions are related to exposure to herbicides or asbestos during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and right shoulder disability were not incurred or aggravated in service, and therefore denied these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, but the hypertension claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and heart disorder did not have onset during service or within one year of service separation, and thus could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board also determined that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is presumed to have been incurred in service due to its onset within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, hypertension, and congestive heart failure due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to address his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and asbestosis were not related to service or a service-connected disability, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's atrial fibrillation is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected hypertension, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not develop due to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in, or aggravated by, active service; it was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability (diabetes mellitus); and may not be presumed to have been so incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to assess whether the Veteran's low back disability and hypertension are related to service, including considering exposure to environmental factors during service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease as due to herbicide exposure and for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and diabetic nephropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart disease, including valvular heart disease and hypertension, is etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral diabetic retinopathy and denied service connection for glaucoma. Bilateral diabetic retinopathy is found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, while glaucoma is not proximately due to or aggravated by diabetes.