Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's vertigo, to include a cerebellar gait, is due to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cardiovascular disease has been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during service or within one year after service, and is unrelated to active service. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not permanently aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and therefore grants service connection for hypertension secondary to this condition.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hypertension, as it is not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by service. The Veteran's current hypertension is more likely related to his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for hypertension with electrocardiographic changes, finding that the Veteran's diastolic blood pressure is predominantly 110 mm/Hg despite her use of multiple medications.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension. The case will be returned to the AOJ after this development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, peptic ulcer and PTSD have been granted. The effective date of the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease is October 6, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions and assigned an initial disability rating of 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, hypertension, and bilateral pes planus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, which contributed to his fatal hypertensive heart disease, is more likely than not related to service. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's death was caused by colon cancer, with hypertension and diabetes mellitus as contributing causes. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam-era service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's original claim was denied in 1994, and no additional evidence has been provided within one year of that decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to service, specifically his presumed Agent Orange exposure. The examiner should also assess whether the hypertension was caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between her current hypertension and either her service or any service-connected conditions. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for secondary service connection as her hypertension is less likely related to her PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including consideration of a claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine if his sarcoidosis, prostate disability, and hypertension are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a functional heart murmur, hypertension, and aortic valve replacement have been denied as the evidence does not support their onset or causation during military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially-gainful occupation.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder and hypertension are service-connected, with the initial disability rating for residuals of colon cancer being granted at a 40 percent level.