Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension had its onset during service and is continuously present since then, meeting the criteria for service connection. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for diabetes mellitus and found no basis for a separate evaluation of erectile dysfunction. The hypertension and heart condition claims are remanded as the VA examiner's opinion did not address whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by diabetes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are presumed to have been incurred as a result of service exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed jaw disability or any other service-connected condition. The initial ratings for hypertension, GERD with hiatal hernia, tinea pedis of the bilateral feet, and right wrist CTS are denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and his claims for service connection were denied. The accrued benefits claims related to the Veteran's disabilities are also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and atypical Parkinson's disease due to incomplete VA treatment records, lack of adequate medical opinions regarding causation, and need for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have diabetes mellitus or hypertension to a compensable degree within one year after discharge from service, and thus denied claims for these conditions. The stomach disorder with gastritis, IBS, h.pylori, and GERD was also not shown to be related to service or service-connected disabilities. Service connection for the right shoulder and left shoulder disorders were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hypertension or cardiovascular disability with cardiac residuals of rheumatic fever that is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for recognition of the Veteran's adult son as a helpless child due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining 18 years of age. Service connection was not established for hypertension, chest pain, tinnitus, high cholesterol, or rash.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a pulmonary disorder presumed to be caused by Agent Orange exposure. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions, including hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for this condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's sleep disturbance and fatigue are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD, but the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. Service connection is granted for these symptoms as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension on a direct basis, but the secondary service connection claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is required to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current hypertension, and this case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially and materially to his death from congestive heart failure, due to or as a consequence of hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, a bilateral eye disorder, a sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea), and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused or made worse by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.