Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Board denied service connection for residuals of colon cancer and hypertension, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of all relevant evidence, including a supplemental opinion regarding tinnitus and cardiac disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's request for a hearing. The original issues of entitlement to compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and arterial hypertension remain pending.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. The Board also finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of hypertension, which may be proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or coronary artery disease. The Veteran's neoplasms of the skin (basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis) are found to be related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development, including new examinations and consideration of a TDIU claim.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain vocational rehabilitation records and provide the Veteran with a new VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on employment.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma was caused by exposure to Agent Orange in service, and the Board has determined that he is entitled to service connection for this condition. The hypertension claim will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, including as due to in-service exposure to herbicides or as secondary to service-connected PTSD with MDD, is denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of hypertension and thus cannot grant the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a Travel Board hearing within 90 days of notification. The claims for reopening service connection for respiratory disabilities and hypertension are still pending.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, fibromyalgia, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. The Veteran's claims were remanded due to new evidence received after a prior denial.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's service-connected GSW residuals and his death, nor did it find any nexus between non-service-connected conditions (lung cancer, hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive lung disease) and service. The cause of death was attributed to lung cancer with underlying causes of hypertension, diabetes, and chronic obstructive lung disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, as there is no competent and credible evidence showing current disabilities or a link to his active service.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic pancreatic cancer, is not service-connected as it did not result from any condition or injury incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension did not manifest during or within one year after his separation from active service. The evidence does not establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's active service and his hypertension, nor was there sufficient evidence to support secondary service connection based on his service-connected PTSD or presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, chronic prostatitis, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his National Guard service and exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of current hypertension. The Veteran's claim for abdominal adhesions, status post endoscopic repair, is granted based on the presence of residuals from a service-connected surgery.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed hypertension and atrial fibrillation, as they may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, left scrotal sac scar, and right hydrocele and loss of left testicle were denied as there is no evidence that the disabilities have worsened to a point warranting higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records, clarification of employment status, and a new VA examination.