Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service separation form shows he had continuous active service from January 5, 1961 to December 27, 1962. However, his service ended before the start of the Vietnam era and does not meet the criteria for qualifying wartime service as required by law.

The Board finds that the reduction of the rating for service-connected hypertension from 60 percent to 20 percent, effective May 1, 2008, was proper and restoration is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's heart disorders and hypertension are not related to service, including his service-connected COPD. The evidence does not support a finding of ischemic heart disease or any other type of heart disorder due to service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, which the Veteran claimed was secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2 was managed with diet only during the initial rating period. For the entire rating period, his right and left knee disabilities have been manifested by painful, noncompensable limitation of motion with stiffness, crepitation, and frequent episodes of pain, locking, and effusion. The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, cardiac disability, diabetes mellitus, low back disability, prostate cancer, and thyroid disability, were denied as there was no evidence of exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of depression or head rash at any time during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's timely notice of disagreement was accepted, and his claims for service connection for left foot arthritis and hypertension (claimed as secondary to residuals of a gunshot wound to the left foot) and an increased rating for service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left foot are now pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, irritability, memory loss, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, headaches, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition (trench foot) has been reopened. The other issues remain pending and are evaluated on their merits.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran had a preexisting hypertension disability prior to service. The most probative evidence did not link the Veteran's current hypertension to service, including as due to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a heart condition for accrued benefits purposes, as well as DIC based on the Veteran's cause of death. The conditions were found to be directly related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and scars of the chest and leg from a coronary artery bypass grafting procedure. The Veteran's claim is rated at 10%.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding whether hypertension is aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by service due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension began during service and is therefore granted as service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension was not manifested during his active military service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and hypertension have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The criteria for service connection are met for all four conditions.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension had its onset and was shown in service. As such, the criteria for entitlement to service connection for hypertension have been met.