Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's heart disorders are being remanded for additional development to determine if they are related to service, including his anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's inguinal hernia residuals do not result in recurrence or use of a truss/belt. His hypertension prior to September 18, 2013, did not require continuous medication for control. Effective September 18, 2013, his hypertension required continuous medication for control and warrants an increased rating.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and hypertension were not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after his separation from active duty. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, and a skin disorder (chloracne), were denied as the evidence did not support a link to his military service.

The Veteran's OSA and hypertension were not shown to be related to her active service or service-connected PTSD. The Board found no evidence of a current disability, in-service disease or injury, or link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition. The claims for earlier effective date and higher SMC rates are also pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for kidney disorder, hypertension, and residuals of stroke. The Board is dismissing these matters as there are no longer any issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for anxiety disorder with depression was granted, but the appeals for service connection for other conditions remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for glaucoma, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral knee arthritis and rheumatism, heart disability, and sinusitis are denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or a relationship to service.,The Veteran's current hypertension condition is not related to his service. The Board finds that the weight of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current heart conditions (coronary artery disease and hypertensive cardiovascular disease) are related to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim is denied as there is no in-service incurrence or relationship to service. Additionally, he is not entitled to presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.,Bilateral knee arthritis and rheumatism claims are denied as the Veteran did not have an in-service injury or disease that would support a grant of service connection. The Board also finds no evidence of continuity of symptomatology between his current condition and service.,The Veteran's heart disability (coronary artery disease and hypertensive cardiovascular disease) claim is denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or relationship to service. Additionally, the weight of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's sinusitis claim is granted as it is secondary to his service-connected rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is dismissed. The Board grants the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it was caused by herbicide exposure during his naval service.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to March 19, 2014 has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of the appeal in a May 2016 letter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis B disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to November 1, 2016. The Veteran is immune to Hepatitis B and does not have daily fatigue, malaise, or anorexia with minor weight loss and hepatomegaly.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence or credible lay statements supporting a current diagnosis of left ankle disability, gastrointestinal disability (gastroenteritis), hypertension, sleep apnea, and allergic rhinitis. Therefore, the Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye disorder and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or exposure to herbicides. The Board also found that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his service.

Service connection for prostate cancer was granted with an effective date of August 1, 2009. The reduction in rating from 100% to 20% was affirmed. The issue of increased ratings for prostate cancer and residuals is still under consideration.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension is etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and therefore grants service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anemia and hypertension did not develop as a result of service or a service-connected disability, including diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for glaucoma with left eye blindness, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus have been reopened. The right knee disorder claim remains denied.,Service connection for the right knee disorder is not granted as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after discharge.