Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Board found that the cause of death, cardiopulmonary arrest and hypertension stage II, were not present in service or etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for prostatitis with UTI was denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy with myocardial infarction have not met the criteria for higher ratings during any portion of the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the relationship between hypertension and service, including consideration of reported headaches in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service and is not related to his diabetes, which precludes service connection.

The Board denied service connection for depression and hypertension, finding no in-service onset or relationship to service. The Veteran's appeal was based on reopening of previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including review of all VA treatment records since November 2015 and from September 2013 to present.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension has been manifested by a history of diastolic pressure of 100 or more and requires continuous medication for control. The Board finds that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 10 percent rating for hypertension throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, left foot disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and below-the-knee amputation of the right leg to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease, concluding that it did not manifest during or within one year after service and was not related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder, to include cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation, was not incurred or aggravated in service. The current diagnoses of hypertension were also not shown to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, hypertensive nephrosclerosis, and depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's renal cancer is found to be due to herbicide exposure, and the issue of service connection for hypertension is remanded. The rating for diabetes mellitus remains unchanged.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed due to his in-service herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the available evidence does not establish a positive association between herbicide exposure and hypertension, but service connection based on direct causation may still be established pursuant to Combee v. Brown.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU. The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for hypertension and hyperlipiaemia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to his death by his service-connected hypertension, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's geographic tongue and pseudofolliculitis barbae ratings remain denied, as does his request for an earlier effective date for hallux limitus/rigidus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and medical opinions regarding whether his service-connected PTSD aggravates his hypertension and heart disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no chronic disease in service and no evidence of a compensable degree within one year of separation. The VA examiner opined that hypertension is less likely than not incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is not related to his military service and is not due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.