Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

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.

The evidence does not establish that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred or aggravated by service, including as due to a service-connected disability. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding a direct relationship between the condition and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not develop during service or within one year of discharge, and it is not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and a need to address certain issues.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD, ED, SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ, migraines, and OSA are denied as the earliest possible effective date is August 16, 2009, the day following separation from active service.,Service connection for hypertension was granted with an effective date of October 28, 2009, based on a diagnosis within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are denied as entitlement arose prior to that date.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's current headache disability is service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the remaining issues for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his unit records and determine if he was exposed to herbicides during service. If exposure is confirmed, further development will be required.

The Veteran was seen for complaints of headaches following a head injury in service and has presented competent and credible evidence that those headaches have persisted since service.,It is as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service.

The Veteran's request for service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to PTSD and exposure to herbicides, is being remanded due to the cancellation of his requested videoconference hearing. The appeal will be handled at the earliest available opportunity.