Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not attributable to service, including his presumed herbicide exposure, and was not caused or aggravated by his PTSD. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability may have caused or aggravated his hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and is granting secondary service connection for hypertension due to diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise whether the Veteran suffers from PTSD related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for vision disorder, low back disorder, asthma, and hypertension. The Board found no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury related to refractive error of the eyes during service, and there is no competent evidence linking any other eye disability to active service. For the low back disorder, the Board noted that arthritis was not shown within one year after discharge from service, and there is no credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology for a low back disorder. Service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to lack of exposure to herbicides during service and because there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and examinations, particularly related to his rheumatoid arthritis claim. The hypertension claim remains pending.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected, and his coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus are rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining all pertinent records.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for Parkinson's disease and granted it, but denied the other issues on appeal. The Veteran was not provided with a rating or effective date as his claims were all reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds no evidence of a current respiratory disorder or eye disability related to service. The Veteran's gastrointestinal and psychiatric conditions are found to be secondary to his spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination to determine if these conditions are aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues have therefore been dismissed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is found to be related to his service. Service connection for hypertension secondary to a service-connected back disorder is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and right shoulder degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is being remanded for additional development.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, dyslipidemia, and hemorrhoids due to lack of in-service diagnosis or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral artery disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was granted, with a rating of 30% effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding potential exposure to toxins on Guam and the cause of his claimed disabilities.