Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease were not related to his military service or any presumptive exposure to herbicides. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the relationship between hypertension and PTSD.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and mycotic toenails are rated based on their underlying diabetic process. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and development of medical records. The Board will determine if his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and spastic colon as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.,Service connection was not granted for a left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset in service or within one year of service, nor is it shown to be caused by active military service or a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if any heart disorder, including CAD and hypertension, is related to the Veteran's military service or caused by his service-connected systolic murmur.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, specifically whether it is related to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to his herbicide exposure, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is warranted.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current disability level.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, although generally functioning satisfactorily with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it is related to his in-service noise exposure during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during his active duty or within one year after separation. The VA examiners found that any current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral radiculopathy was dismissed as the condition had already been granted. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right wrist disability, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The claim for hypertension was not addressed as it is not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, as there was no evidence of any service-connected disability at the time of his death. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was COPD, which developed many years after service and was not related to any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are at least as likely as not of such severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, arthritis of both wrists and shoulders, gout, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for DJD of both knees. The issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also being remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is not shown to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.,Since the initial grant of service connection, the Veteran's coronary artery disease has been manifested by a left ventricular ejection fraction ranging from 45 to 50 percent; and there has been no showing of chronic congestive heart failure or a workload of 3 metabolic equivalents (METs) resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, or syncope. The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently evaluated at 60%.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.