Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease. The case is remanded for additional development regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new evidence received after a previous decision, and because of the potential service connection between hypertension and PTSD.

The Veteran died from chronic renal failure, COPD and hypertension. The Board found that these conditions were not service-connected.

The Veteran's hypertension, requiring continuous medication for control, is currently manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more. The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and residuals of a stroke, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence supporting these claims. The strokes are found to be secondary to hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The ratings for left and right knee disabilities have been increased to 10 percent each.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board found no link between his conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not onset in service or to a compensable degree within one year of his separation from service, and is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected sleep apnea. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's traumatic brain injury is service-connected, and he is entitled to compensation for this condition. The claims for hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records, scheduling VA examinations to address his claimed psychiatric and orthopedic disabilities, and readjudication of the claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, to include as secondary to hypertension, was withdrawn. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for the aggravation of his pre-existing bilateral pes planus during a period of active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung disability, hypertension, and enlarged prostate were not incurred in or related to his service. The Veteran withdrew his appeals for these issues during a hearing before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is permanently aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, thus the appellant does not qualify for CHAMPVA benefits.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for cutanea tarda, bilateral hearing loss disability, chloracne, heart murmur, hypertension, connective tissue disorder, vision disability in right eye, peripheral neuropathy, and Parkinson's disease. The claim for service connection for lupus erythematosus is also reopened.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension were denied as there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.,For the increased rating issues, the Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increase in ratings for his right knee disability, residual right knee status post ligament repair, and left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including hypertension and trileaflet aortic valve disability, as it found no evidence of such disabilities during or within one year after his military service. The Board also concluded that there was no link between the disabilities and herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not related to his service-connected acne vulgaris with residual scarring.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was not exposed to Agent Orange during his military service and therefore cannot establish presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, cardiac disabilities, or stroke. The claims are denied as direct service connection is not met.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he asserts is either due to service or to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The case is REMANDED for additional development.