Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has determined that further development of the Veteran's claim is needed to determine if his pre-existing hypertension and bilateral iliac artery blockage were aggravated by military service, which could affect his entitlement to service connection for residuals of cerebral vascular accident.

The Board granted service connection for epididymitis, incontinence secondary to epididymitis, prostate disorder secondary to epididymitis, kidney disorder secondary to epididymitis, and denied service connection for hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a disease or disability that onset in service, was causally related to service, or was secondary to a service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities and determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of increased evaluation for postoperative hemangioblastoma tumor of the brain, service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for low back disability.

The Board has granted increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, gout of the right great toe, and several forms of joint dysfunction. The effective date remains pending as it is not specified in this decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to any in-service noise exposure.,Coronary artery disease was first manifested more than one year after service and is not related to service. Hypertension was also first manifested more than one year after service and is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus are not related to service, including exposure to herbicides. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include diabetic nephropathy, coronary artery disease, and various neuropathies, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service or inactive duty training, and thus he is denied service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support entitlement to service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service connected diabetes mellitus. The preponderance of the evidence indicates that hypertension preceded the diabetes, did not cause the diabetes, and did not aggravate the diabetes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of various conditions, including a lumbar spine disability, PTSD, hypertension, tension headaches, and reactive airway disease. The appeals were based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and medical records.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran's hypertension is manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more; or, systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more. Therefore, a compensable evaluation for hypertension has been denied.

The Veteran's initial staged ratings for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension have been granted, with a 30% evaluation from July 14, 2003 to August 21, 2010. Service connection has also been established for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, but the weight of medical evidence indicates these conditions do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, migraine headaches, and left ear hearing loss was received on October 24, 2006, more than one year after his separation from active service. The Board finds that the earliest possible effective date is October 24, 2006.

The Veteran's death was caused by pancreatic cancer with liver metastasis due to bilateral pulmonary emboli. The Board has determined that further development is needed, including for asbestos exposure and Agent Orange exposure claims.

The Board has granted service connection for both hypertension and erectile dysfunction, finding that the evidence supports a link to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder, depression, diabetes mellitus type II with peripheral vascular disease, and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service. The conditions are also not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus aggravated his claimed hypertension. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.