Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the two conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and congestive heart failure (secondary to hypertension), finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened and service connection is granted.,Service connection for hypertension, secondary to coronary artery disease, remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding it presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam service. The claim for hypertension remains pending as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Veteran's hypertension and hearing loss were not shown to be related to his military service. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% rating for non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, finding that there was no material improvement in his condition since the reduction to 60%.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not causally or etiologically related to service, including presumed herbicide exposure during service. The claim was also denied as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's headache disorder is related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than March 8, 2005 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease is not warranted.

The Board found that the reduction from a 40 percent to a 20 percent disability rating for type II diabetes mellitus was improper and restored the original 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss have been granted. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension, but denied the claim for OSA due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, type II, a prostate disorder, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and left knee degenerative joint disease as the evidence does not support these claims. Service connection was previously denied for tinea pedis in 1973, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he claims is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The Board has requested an addendum opinion to determine if the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated beyond its normal progression by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected heart condition, associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, contributed to his death from a subdural hematoma caused by a fall due to dizziness. The Board finds the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether this was the case and grants the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart conditions, including coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction, are aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The hypertension is also found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and/or heart conditions.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to respiratory and vascular disorders, as well as the claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for hypertension, as secondary to service-connected CAD, MI, and heart transplantation. The Board has dismissed this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment given his service-connected conditions.