Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen claims for service connection for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, right bundle branch block, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and a psychiatric disability (PTSD and anxiety).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, are denied as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether PTSD caused or aggravated cardiomyopathy and hypertension. The appeal is now pending again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension do not warrant an increased rating as they are currently evaluated at 0 percent (noncompensable).

The Board has granted service connection for right-sided testicular pain (claimed as epididymitis) and depressive disorder, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer. Service connection for hypertension was not established.

The case is being remanded due to incomplete VA medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection and new and material evidence will be reconsidered after the additional records are obtained.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss due to herbicide exposure, but new evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to such exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on multiple conditions, including lumbar sprain and migraine headaches, was denied. The Veteran's lumbar sprain is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain any outstanding treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, fibromyalgia (to include as secondary to PTSD), and arthritis have been denied. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD from May 3, 2007 through April 18, 2011 has been granted. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD since April 19, 2011 and to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) from November 19, 2007 through April 18, 2011 have been granted.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and consideration of the claim, including the submission of additional evidence by the Veteran.

The Board found that neither hypertension nor acute respiratory failure, which caused the Veteran's death, were service-connected or could have been service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and right elbow disability are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which meets the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disorder is unrelated to service. Hypertension was also found to be unrelated to service or a disease of service origin.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's stomach disorder (GERD) is found to be service-connected, as it is claimed as secondary to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation exposure during military service. The other issues are not addressed due to lack of evidence or the complexity of the claims.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to October 2007, and later increased to 50 and 70 percent. A TDIU was granted effective from April 2009. Service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by service. Therefore, the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus was denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed for possible secondary or aggravation by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case is REMANDED to allow the VA examiner to provide an opinion on whether the hypertension is related to the coronary artery disease, which has been granted as a result of herbicide exposure.