Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension is not shown by the competent medical evidence of record to be etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event in service or to a service-connected disability. Service connection for hypertension cannot be granted on a presumptive basis under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a).

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease results in impairment more nearly approximating the criteria for a 60 percent rating, which was granted. The claims for service connection for hypertension and residuals of stroke are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. Hypertension is presumed to have been incurred within one year of separation from service due to consistent blood pressure readings. Lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome is also presumed as it was diagnosed shortly after service discharge. Pseudofolliculitis barbae is considered service-connected based on its onset during military service and no evidence against this.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for hypertension secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, finding that new and material evidence was not received.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to assess his service-connected lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), hypertension, and bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's death was caused by cardiopulmonary arrest, with COPD and hypertension as underlying conditions. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if ischemic heart disease is related to service due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 80 percent for nephropathy.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, impotence, and cataracts are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing in-service onset or connection to service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not manifest during or within one year after his military service and is not related to any in-service exposure. The claim was decided on the basis of direct service connection.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in Korea and denied service connection for all claimed disabilities as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension, as well as to address his claims of exposure to environmental hazards during service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and hypertension, both claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling new VA compensation examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and skin disease were denied as secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The Board denied service connection for hypertension on a direct basis.

The Board found that the Veteran's ankle/feet, back, neck, left shoulder, stomach/gastrointestinal, and psychiatric disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The kidney disorder was determined to be pre-existing and not aggravated during service.

The Veteran's combined rating was 60 percent after the appellant's 26th birthday, but did not meet the requirement of a permanent and total disability for DEA benefits.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected asthma or any in-service incident caused or aggravated other causes of death. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further development to determine its relationship to his diabetes mellitus type II. The issue of an increased rating for prostate cancer residuals remains on appeal.