Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records from 1995 to present, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hypertension and aortic dissection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other toxins that could have caused these conditions. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a link between any current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as there are no legal grounds to assign a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6260. For ED, the RO has already granted service connection and assigned the minimum (zero percent) evaluation allowed by law.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, and the residuals of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, a back disorder, and hypertension. The evidence did not establish new and material evidence to reopen the claim for fibromyalgia. Service connection was also denied for the back disorder and hypertension as there is no direct or presumptive evidence of these conditions during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and pancreatitis are not secondary to his service-connected diabetes or coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected psoriasis was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SOC) on several issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not etiologically related to service and is not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he contends was incurred during reserve service from July 1987 to July 2002. The case is being remanded for further development including obtaining additional personnel records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, right ear hearing loss, and increased rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of both feet, and PTSD has been granted. The claims are presumed based on exposure to herbicides during service in Korea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied. The claim of service connection for right pes planus has been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Veteran's last employer and a VA examination to address all complications of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The timeliness of appeals regarding hypertension, solar elastosis/tinea cruris/asteatosis, and PTSD are also addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and providing an addendum opinion regarding service connection for heart disability and hypertension. The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II and housebound SMC are also pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and hypertension. The Veteran's bipolar disorder by history is not considered to be incurred in or caused by his military service, and the hypertension is not found to be related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's disabilities are related to exposure to Agent Orange. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected low back disorder, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, a major depressive disorder, and an anxiety disorder, is found to be incurred in service. Service connection for hypertension due to service-connected organic heart disease with mitral regurgitation is also granted.