Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected and there is no evidence that it was caused or aggravated by his diabetes mellitus. The examiner found the Veteran to have essential hypertension, which is unrelated to his diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension neither began during nor was otherwise caused by his military service, and it was not aggravated by a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gout, arthritis, rhinitis, and hypertension are not related to his active service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for hypertension, as there is no medical link between a current disability and an in-service incurrence or previously service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, a sleep disorder, and increased rating for prostate cancer residuals due to new evidence and factual findings.

The Veteran's cognitive disorder is found to be causally related to his service-connected TBI, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and headache disability, but denied his claim of entitlement to service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and hypertension. The decision is based on the lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an updated medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and heart murmur, as well as whether these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and hypertension are not related to service or any other condition, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sick sinus syndrome and for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the March 10, 2010 rating decision that granted TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hypertension was caused by his time in service, and therefore grants service connection for hypertension. The heart disorder is also granted as it is less likely than not due to or aggravated by the service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for mini-strokes and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease, and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of mini-strokes and the evidence does not support a finding that hypertension was caused by any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no direct nexus between his military service and his current diagnosis. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a secondary service connection based on his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were generally granted, with some issues being denied. The Veteran was awarded a 10 percent rating for diabetes mellitus type II, and an initial rating of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy in the right lower extremity associated with diabetes mellitus type II prior to February 2, 2016, and an increased rating of 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's hypertension was reopened due to new evidence, but service connection is not granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastrointestinal condition, to include GERD, as secondary to PTSD was denied in the December 2008 rating decision. New and material evidence has been received since then, reopening this claim.,Service connection for chest pain as secondary to PTSD was also reopened due to new evidence submitted since the December 2008 decision.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as it did not manifest during or within one year of his military service and there is no medical evidence linking it to PTSD. The July 2008 rating decision denying hearing loss was not found to contain CUE.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and end stage renal disease, as well as his right hand, knee, and heel disabilities. The decision also found that new evidence did not warrant reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, hypertension, and loss of vision in the right eye are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions with service. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is currently rated noncompensably disabling.