Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed all appeals as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for various conditions, including kidney disorder, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart disorder.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to any in-service event. The earliest clinical notation of hypertension was in 2014.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including considering his exposure to nuclear radiation and other hazardous materials during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, hypertension, and recurrent headaches. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder for the purpose of establishing eligibility for treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, hypertension, and recurrent headaches. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder for the purpose of establishing eligibility for treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, hypertension, and recurrent headaches. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder for the purpose of establishing eligibility for treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder.

Entitlement to service connection for asthma is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The claim for service connection for hypertension due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded as there is limited or suggestive evidence of an association between hypertension and Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) since October 29, 2012. The right ear hearing loss disability was not referred for an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of August 10, 2015 for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was also granted an effective date of January 7, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and left knee scar have been remanded by the Board.,No effective date has been established for any of these issues as they are currently pending.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD but dismissed the claim for hypertension. The Veteran's PTSD is related to in-service stressors, and there is no evidence of malingering.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as there was no evidence of a hearing loss disability during or after service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish that the Veteran's hypertension, GERD, ED, insomnia, and depression are related to his military service.,The Veteran did not have any complaints, treatment, or diagnosis for these conditions in service. There is also no evidence linking them to his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected back condition contributed to his death from congestive heart failure.

The Board has remanded both issues due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including a change in disability ratings that may affect SMC eligibility.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while serving in Korea and whether he is entitled to service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to that exposure, and for hypertension as secondary to his diabetes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hypertension had its onset during service.

The Veteran's cause of death is not related to service or a service-connected condition, and the Board finds that there is no nexus between his death and exposure to herbicide agents.