Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and TDIU, but denied service connection for an acquired mental disorder. The Veteran's current hearing loss is not compensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependence in remission, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The issue of increased rating for bilateral pes planus is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his active service or service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy, high cholesterol, tinea cruris, sinusitis, and a psychiatric disability (PTSD, depression, anxiety), have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's hypertension is likely etiologically related to her alcohol abuse, which is considered part of her service-connected psychiatric disability (PTSD). The Board has granted the claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service occurrence, and there was no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's hypertension disability and diabetes mellitus (diabetes) are being remanded for further development. The post-laminectomy scarring issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, sinus disorder, and diabetes are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining complete service treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service and is not related to military service. The claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the period from March 13, 2009, to December 4, 2012. The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diverticulitis, and large kidney mass are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claims for COPD, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not caused by his exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam, and thus service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension had its onset during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the current assigned ratings did not meet the severity of his symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant in a February 2017 written statement.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, as well as his claims for effective dates related to cervical radiculopathy, have been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and establishes service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. However, the VA examiner did not provide an opinion regarding whether it was caused by exposure to Agent Orange in service or if it is otherwise related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no increase in severity during active duty and thus no presumption of aggravation could be applied. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected tendon inflammation disability.