Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that any of these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of a higher rating for hypertension and service connection for chronic bronchitis have not been decided.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a skin disorder, and joint pain due to herbicide exposure as the Veteran's reports of such exposure are not credible.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities.,An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is denied, as the evidence does not show that it requires insulin or a restricted diet.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder. The Veteran's account of in-service stressors and symptomatology is credible and highly probative. Service connection is granted based on the presumption of soundness.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hypertension.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertension with heart involvement, and renal insufficiency required treatment including insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities from October 14, 2004 to September 12, 2008. A higher rating is not warranted during this period.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all issues, including service connection for a left hip disability and increased ratings for various joints and hypertension. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not related to his active service. The Board denied service connection for hypertension as there is no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within the presumptive period, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure that would warrant a presumption of service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides during service, and the Veteran's prostate cancer was not diagnosed or treated in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, dysthymia and depressive disorder NOS, a back disability, hypertension, and prostate cancer. The acquired psychiatric disorder is presumed due to herbicide exposure during the Gulf War. Service connection was denied for edema of the lower extremities, heart disability, and dental condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left ankle disability. The appeal of these three issues is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including review of VA treatment records and an updated medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is rated at 70 percent since the grant of service connection, and he has been granted secondary service connection for hypertension and CAD. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to evaluate his coronary heart disease, hypertension, and lower extremity disability. The service connection claims will also be addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities. The combined rating was found insufficient to meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's heart disorder and hypertension have been reopened, but service connection for these conditions is not established as they are not related to his military service.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate reasons or bases provided in the previous decision and because of new evidence. The case is now being sent back for further development.

The Veteran died of small cell lung cancer, but his service connection claims for lung cancer and diabetes mellitus were not meritorious at the time of his death. The Board found that he did not meet the criteria for VA burial benefits due to lack of service-connected disability.