Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and the Board finds that she currently has tinnitus that arose in service. The remaining issues of diabetes, high blood pressure, and hypothyroidism are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is service connected as a result of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran was granted an initial compensable rating for folliculitis from January 18, 2011 to January 18, 2012. Service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities has been established.

The Veteran's hypertension, papillitis and low back degenerative joint disease were all found to be service-connected as of June 2005.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting evidence regarding when the Veteran's hypertension began. The issue is whether hypertension is related to active service, and if so, whether it is secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and a heart disorder have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and hypertension remain under consideration.

The Veteran's heart disease, including hypertension and premature ventricular contractions, had its onset during his active duty service from June 1998 to February 1999. The Board found that the current diagnoses are related to the in-service symptomatology.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, and is not otherwise related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to ensure that all relevant evidence has been considered and a proper examination conducted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not establish a nexus between his current hypertension and any of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development of medical records, including results from visual field testing conducted in October 2015.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension should be remanded due to the need for additional development, including securing a VA medical examination and obtaining any relevant hearing transcripts.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions first manifested during active duty. Service connection was denied for a bladder disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and the need for VA treatment records from his service period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disorders, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. Specifically, a VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, but denied service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, verifying in-service stressors, and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, bilateral tinnitus, and back disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased disability rating for hypertension prior to the Board's decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran's non-service connected hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for further verification of the appellant's service records and development of his claims, including VA examinations.