Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a heart disorder. The Veteran's claims were not granted.,There is no evidence of diabetes mellitus during or after service. Hypertension was diagnosed in 2003, over 16 years post-service. There is no link between the current diagnosis of hypertension and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing and because two of his claims may be affected by the earlier effective date claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse, joint pain, or right knee degenerative joint disease. The claim for service connection for migraine headaches is denied as there is no evidence linking the Veteran's symptoms to his active duty service. Service connection for hypertension is denied due to lack of medical evidence establishing its onset during service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for earlier effective date for service connection for prostate cancer, restoration of a 100 percent disability rating for prostate cancer, and reopening of service connection for Graves' disease and hypertension. The decision also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for updated psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and a VA examination to determine if his current heart conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the diabetes claim, and that the Veteran's current conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and addressing issues related to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not have onset during active service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within a presumptive period, and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arterial hypertension has been reopened. The reduction of the evaluation for hypertensive heart disease with left ventricular failure from 60% to 10% was improper and is void ab initio.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension preexisted his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and was not aggravated by it. Therefore, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and blackout episodes are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The VA will provide the Veteran with another examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent effective February 26, 2008 to February 29, 2012. The Board found that the evidence does not support service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy or hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining information about his medical training and experience as an optometry technician. The VA will also schedule the Veteran for a VA orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him at any point during the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD has been granted, with the effective date set at February 10, 2009. The Veteran is currently rated at 70% for PTSD, which reflects significant impairment in work and social functioning.

The Veteran's hypertension has not been manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more, and therefore, the claim for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities of the bilateral knees are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service knee pain and any diagnosed disability. The claim for hypertension remains pending.