Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's variously diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is service connected due to exposure in the Persian Gulf War. His hypertension and sleep apnea are also service-connected based on presumptive criteria related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and prostate cancer have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The Board also found no basis for granting these claims as there is insufficient evidence linking any current conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The decision found that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, and thus could not apply the Agent Orange presumption. Additionally, the claim for diabetes mellitus, type II, was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen it.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals in their entirety prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated during his active service, nor can it be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including headaches, hypertension, and sleep apnea, are not service-connected as they were not shown to be related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam, and the Board finds that this presumption applies.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is seeking service connection for hypertension, which she claims is related to exposure to herbicides. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional information and records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypertension and heart disorder did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter, and are not otherwise related to his military service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations and a review of his service treatment records.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for tinnitus and irritable bowel syndrome (to include as secondary to PTSD), but not for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, skin cancer, or degenerative joint disease of the left knee or right knee. The Veteran's hypertension was also found not to be related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during service, and his bilateral hearing loss disability is presumed due to in-service noise exposure. The Board also granted service connection for hypertension based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents (Gulf War Syndrome).

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is etiologically related to his active service. The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) proximately due to or the result of his service-connected conditions, including coronary artery disease and type II diabetes.

The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were found not to be related to his active service. The Board denied the claims for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, as well as his request for an effective date earlier than May 17, 2011, for the grant of service connection for glaucoma and ocular hypertension with dry eye syndrome. The Veteran's headaches were also rated at 30 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected asthma aggravated her hypertension, which is a condition that could potentially be service connected. The case will be returned for further clarification and evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset in service or within one year of discharge, and is less likely related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The March 2014 VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hypertension was less likely caused by elevated blood pressure readings during service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of a current disability for any claimed foot or sleep disorder, and the Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not cause his currently diagnosed fungal infection. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between any current foot condition and active service.

The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's PTSD resulted in a disability rating of 50 percent prior to May 4, 2011.