Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as qualifying chronic disabilities under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 due to their association with undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illnesses.

The Board found no evidence of direct service connection for hypertension, as the Veteran's symptoms did not manifest within one year of separation and there was insufficient medical evidence to support a link between PTSD and hypertension. The appeal is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, and hypertension, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's lumbar strain with recurrent pain and degenerative disc disease.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The appellant's statements do not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, to include as a result of presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam. The Board finds that additional development is necessary due to the nature of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded to obtain additional records, including SSA disability benefits records. The issues of service connection for depression and an increased rating for hypertension will be addressed in a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Board has decided the case needs additional development and remands it back to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's hypertension and peripheral neuropathy are related to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection cannot be granted for these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicide agents. The claims for heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, nephropathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral upper extremities were denied as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral artery disease of the lower left extremity, hypertension, and acid reflux disease were denied as there was no evidence showing a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more prior to March 11, 2015, or predominantly 110 or more thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and eczema and dermatitis due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board found no credible evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam or any other area where Agent Orange was used.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and kidney mass are not related to his military service, including herbicide exposure. As such, he is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for hypertension, dilated cardiomyopathy, and atrial fibrillation due to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the disabilities were caused by or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board also finds that the Veteran's current foot disabilities are not related to his military service.

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

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus, and whether it was due to active service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is related to the Veteran's in-service herbicide exposure. The claim was previously denied as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertensive heart disease associated with hypertension was denied by the RO, and he has appealed this decision.