Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension with coronary artery disease is not related to his military service and cannot be presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors. The Board also found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's service-connected conversion reaction with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and his current cardiovascular conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and cardiovascular disease did not cause his death, as they were not manifest during service or within one year of separation. The Board also noted that there was no evidence to suggest that the Veteran's death was caused by any service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including fibromyalgia and other health issues, all claimed as secondary to chemical and/or biological exposure during active duty. The Board finds that additional development is necessary due to the unclear nature of the classified agent exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed, and thus denied his claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, Bell's Palsy, right knee disability, hypertension, left eye disability, diabetes, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher initial rating for PTSD and there are no residuals of his service-connected tonsillectomy.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current multiple allergies, including loss of memory, hypertension, headaches, and shortness of breath, to his military service or any in-service exposure. The claim was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during or as a result of his military service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including loss of teeth, sinus condition, vision problems, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), tinnitus, skin disability, and residuals of a left knee injury were denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a left knee disorder due to disease or injury incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was neither incurred nor aggravated by his active service and is not related to any in-service event. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

Effective from July 21, 2006, the Veteran's hypertension has been rated at 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's asbestosis disability is found to approximate the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to cor pulmonale and pulmonary hypertension, which are considered service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, low back disability, and hypertension. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including enlarged prostate, UTIs, hypertension, and narcolepsy, were not incurred or aggravated during his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus. Service connection is denied for hypercholesterolemia.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings on May 20, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of tonsillitis did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from sepsis, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), bilateral carotid stenosis, and hypertension. The Board concluded that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further review due to recent treatment records and the possibility of renal impairment related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.