Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and has continued since service. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to service connection for tinnitus have been met.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a chronic low back disorder and diabetes mellitus type II with multiple symptoms. The claims were not reopened for other conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. His coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus are both denied initial higher ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, residuals of cervical dysplasia, and chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs), as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful scar of a donor site, status post-left nephrectomy. The Board found that there was no evidence of a link between the Veteran's current conditions and her service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service, and denied both claims.

The Veteran's hypertension and heart disorders were not shown during service or within one year of discharge, and the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service. The presumption for herbicide exposure is inapplicable as hypertension is not listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e) and ischemic heart disease was not shown within one year of last exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service and is not related to a service-connected disability, thus denying her claims.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of claim. Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and spleen, gall bladder, and pancreas removal are granted as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are not service-connected as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in a written submission.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including articulation disorder (hip), fatigue and low energy, hyperlipidemia, IBS, or diverticulitis. Therefore, his claims are denied.

The Veteran is found to be permanently housebound by reason of service-connected psychiatric disability, and thus qualifies for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that hypertension had its onset in or is related to service, manifested to a compensable degree within one year following service, or is due to or aggravated by type II diabetes mellitus or posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not directly incurred during his service or caused by any in-service injury, event, or illness.

The evidence does not establish a direct link between the Veteran's hypertension and his military service, as there is no diagnosis of hypertension during service or within one year post-service. The first objective diagnosis was in 2005, over ten years after separation.

The Veteran's hypertension was not diagnosed in service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking the current condition to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is reopened and granted as secondary to his service-connected respiratory disability.,Service connection for asbestosis is granted based on exposure during active duty at Fort Sill.,The claim for increased rating of reactive airway disease remains denied.,Compensation payments for the service-connected left shoulder and low back disabilities are restored.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, skin rash, and respiratory disorder. The examiner will consider exposure to photochemicals during service as part of their assessment.

The Veteran's service did not involve duty or visitation to Vietnam, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The Board finds that diabetes mellitus, COPD, hypertension, and lumbar radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome were not incurred in or aggravated by service.