Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease (CAD), finding that his hypertension was not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension and oral bone loss as secondary to his service-connected asthma, necrosis of the left hip, necrosis of the right hip, depressive disorder, hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and medication prescribed for asthma. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these claims.

The Board has reviewed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including abnormal weight loss, hypertension, hyperlipidia, fatigue, fluid build-up in the ears, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, joint pain, loss of body hair, muscle pain, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, sleep disturbances, and vertigo. However, there is no evidence to support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service or are related to such service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a kidney disorder, as well as his requests for increased ratings for various disabilities, were denied. The Veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to January 29, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, cataracts, depression, hypertension, impotency, and vascular disease. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a higher rating for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The hypertension claim was denied as not due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by his active military service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, and it is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus claim was also denied as the criteria were not met for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and an increased rating for PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits, and service connection for a heart condition have been denied. The claim for higher rating for tinnitus is also denied as the highest schedular rating of 10 percent has already been assigned.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for the Veteran's kidney disability, sinus disability, hypertension, back disability, multiple joint disability (including arthritis), and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not begin in service and is not related to his diabetes mellitus, thus denying service connection for hypertension.

The Board found no evidence of a seizure disorder, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension in service and denied the claims for these conditions as they are not related to service. The claim for liver disorder was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran did not manifest hypertension during service or continuously after service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and thus denied all of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing. His claims of service connection and increased rating for PTSD are still pending.

The Veteran's hypertension was not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation and is unrelated to his service or diabetes. His PTSD, however, has been granted a higher rating effective November 15, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, finding no evidence of their onset during active duty or a link to service-connected conditions. The Board also found no residuals of a contusion of the right distal thigh.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not begin in service and is not related to his service-connected hypertension. Therefore, service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings and the need for further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his acquired psychiatric disorder and seizure disorder, are found to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board grants TDIU effective December 30, 2004.