Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and the appellant B.A.P.S. could not be recognized as the surviving spouse due to her prior legal marriage to the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether an extraschedular evaluation is warranted for hypertension, which was initially granted in a 10 percent rating. The referral to the Director of Compensation Service will assess the collective impact of all service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's disability picture.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. His claim for PTSD has been granted, with a diagnosis of PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and consideration of recent VA treatment records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during service and is not otherwise related to his service-connected heart condition. The examiner opined that the hypertension is less likely due to or aggravated by the service-connected arrhythmia.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including service connection for hepatitis B, hypertension, diabetes, a mild heart attack, adjustment disorder, and a left eye disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the claims for bilateral hearing loss, heart disability, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his physical and mental incapacity, which requires care and assistance on a regular basis.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service and may not be presumed to have been.

The Board has granted the appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease. The secondary service connection claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, PTSD, chronic pain disorder, and other neurological disorders. The decision is based on the lack of evidence supporting a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for skin cancer and hypertension, both of which were found not to be related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for heart disease, residuals of gallstone surgery, hypertension, kidney condition, left knee disability, and prostate condition. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be incurred or aggravated in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicide and asbestos during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a renal condition are mixed. The appeal is based on presumed exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed respiratory disorder, back disability, hypertension, and gout are not related to service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for diabetes mellitus has been granted at a 40 percent level, but his nephropathy with hypertension remains under review as the evidence is insufficient to determine its impact on his employment and daily activities.