Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing, special home adaptation assistance, or financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions, including back, knee, foot, elbow, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, heart disease, or psychiatric disorders, that were incurred in or aggravated by his service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an additional medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension claim, specifically addressing whether it is related to service and if it is aggravated by diabetes.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension was not shown during service or for many years thereafter, and there is no evidence linking it to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's swelling of the lower extremities is a manifestation of his service-connected hypertension, and thus not a separate disability warranting service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim is now considered to be well-grounded.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, as well as his increased rating and compensable rating claims for his left foot disability. The decision found that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis of hypertension or continuous symptoms from separation to present.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board denied the claims of entitlement to service connection for varicose veins of the ankles, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's hypertension and psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of in-service events, symptoms, or a relationship to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including obtaining supplemental opinions from VA examiners regarding the etiology of his disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and finds that it is warranted on a direct basis due to its onset during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's elevated blood pressure readings during active duty and subsequent treatment with medication within one year of separation from service meet the criteria for a 10% rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and bronchitis/COPD were not incurred or aggravated during service. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the presumption of service connection does not apply. The TDIU claim is also denied due to lack of a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, skin cancer, coronary artery disease, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, kidney condition, hypertension, and tinnitus. The decisions were based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 24, 2010.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to questions regarding the exact nature and etiology of the disabilities at issue, including the lack of service treatment records.