Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of CVA as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issue of service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus, remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for hives, esophageal carcinoma, and hypertension was granted with an effective date of July 27, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service, did not manifest within one year of discharge from active duty, and was not incurred or aggravated during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA). As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his military service, including as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension and granted a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, while his other conditions have not been established as being due to or a result of service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to Type II diabetes mellitus. However, it is not established that the Veteran's hypertension was caused or permanently aggravated by his service-connected diabetes. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection on either direct or presumptive basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus, as well as the DIC claim, were denied. The Board also found that the appellant is not entitled to burial benefits due to lack of evidence showing a cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be related to service, including his presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Board found that the claim for service connection for hypertension must fail as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year post-service separation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, heart disability, or hypertension. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no competent evidence linking the condition to his military service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability of sleep apnea in service or for many years thereafter.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension as both conditions are considered presumptively service-connected due to their manifestation within one year of the Veteran's separation from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hypertension, and readjudicating all issues on appeal.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and herbicide exposure. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion on the direct service connection of hypertension to active duty service, as well as secondary service connection due to type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and hidradenitis suppurativa, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or within one year of separation. The claim for hepatitis C was remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type 2, and service connection for erectile dysfunction. The decision also noted that a claim to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for hypertension was not considered as it had become final.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for cervical spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and surgical scars from cervical diskectomy as well as service connection for TBI are also being addressed.