Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Board has granted reconsideration of the previously denied claim for service connection for depression and has reopened the claims for service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine and hypertension. The decision on the matter of service connection for congestive heart failure is pending.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for a left knee disorder, hypertension, or esophageal disorders. The Veteran's current conditions are deemed to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hypertension and hemorrhoids are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the relationship between his hypertension and service-connected diabetes mellitus, as well as herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The case will be re-adjudicated after this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's congestive heart failure and hypertension are etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death (intracranial hemorrhage, hemorrhagic cerebral vascular accident, and hypertension) was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The service-connected shrapnel wound did not contribute to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure are related to his military service, granting the claims for service connection.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hypertension, which is required to establish service connection for cause of death. Therefore, DIC benefits are denied.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion on the possibility of service connection for high blood pressure under the theory of secondary service connection, specifically as it relates to PTSD with major depression.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension in June 1986. The Veteran's claim has been reopened, but the claims remain denied as new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that they are not related to his active duty service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that hypertension, a chronic disease, was first manifested during the Veteran's active duty service and is therefore presumed to have been incurred in service. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on direct service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's in-service malaria exposure and hospitalization are also being sought as part of this process.

The Veteran's nerve damage to the left leg has been rated as 10 percent disabling, which is appropriate given the symptoms described. The acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD, panic disorder with agoraphobia, PTSD) has been granted service connection and is considered a new issue due to reopened claims. Hypertension and sleep apnea have not been found to be related to service. Left shoulder and back disabilities are also not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including hypertension, is service-connected as due to herbicide exposure.,Diabetes mellitus, type II, is also service-connected as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and examinations. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, a right shoulder disability, and hypertension (on de novo review) are also being remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development and an opinion regarding whether hypertension is related to service. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after this process.

The Board found that there is no valid claim for service connection as the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of hypertension at any time during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for hypertension, finding that his hypertension has not been manifested by a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more since December 12, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development. The case will be readjudicated after the completion of requested actions.