Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of hypertension and service connection for diabetes mellitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for hypertension or service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to ensure that all relevant evidence has been considered and a thorough examination is conducted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including for hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep disorder, hearing loss, lumbar spine spondylolisthesis with degenerative disease L5-S1, right ankle post-operative residuals, traumatic arthritis, and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome to allow for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and GERD, finding that the evidence did not establish a direct link to active military service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran's PTSD was also considered as potentially contributing to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar II disorder, depression) and hypertension. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's hypertension, kidney disorder, and erectile dysfunction are all service-connected. The Board granted service connection for these conditions with a rating of 70 percent for dysthymic disorder with anxiety symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder rotator cuff strain and associated conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 2, 2009. Effective July 1, 2011, the Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of the Veteran's presence in Vietnam and examination to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral eye disorders, including cataracts, dry eye, and ocular hypertension, are not related to his active military service. The preexisting conditions did not increase in severity during service, and there is no evidence of a nexus between any current eye disorder and service.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II or hypertension (HTN) as related to the Veteran's active service. The Board concluded that the Veteran did not have a chronic condition in service and that his current conditions are more likely due to post-service factors.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes was not related to her military service and denied all issues of secondary service connection. The Veteran's conditions are considered direct service connection cases.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disability in an August 2016 decision, and the Court remanded this issue to the Board.,Service connection for hypertension was denied as it did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking it to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran meets the criteria for basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically a TDIU.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension was not shown during his active duty service, and there is no evidence to suggest a nexus between the current condition and service. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no credible evidence of a right or left shoulder injury during service, and the record does not contain probative evidence relating any currently diagnosed shoulder disorder to active service.,The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no credible evidence of tinnitus during service or for many years thereafter. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that current tinnitus is related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of his service connection claims, including examinations to address the etiology of his hypertension and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetic nephropathy have not been shown to warrant a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran's malignant melanoma is presumed to be due to his in-service herbicide exposure, but there is no evidence of record showing that it was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and an acquired psychiatric disability. Service connection is also granted for arthritis (right shoulder) but not OSA.

The Veteran's PTSD and substance abuse disorder are currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted.,Hypertension was first diagnosed in approximately 2006, more than a decade after service, and there is no evidence of its onset during active duty. The Veteran's current hypertension does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on exposure to Gulf War conditions.