Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and is not otherwise causally related to his military service. The Board also found no evidence linking the Veteran's current hypertension to his service-connected right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and to obtain VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including verification of military service periods and obtaining updated VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these issues.,Service connection for lung cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea and TBI. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, tinnitus, left shoulder disorder, hypertension, low back disorder, and erectile dysfunction are all found to be related to his military service. Service connection is also granted for the extension of a temporary total evaluation due to right shoulder surgery.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from October 1, 2008 to September 10, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 29, 2010. From that date until the present, his PTSD alone does not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension and skin disorder, including squamous cell carcinoma, lipoma, actinic keratosis and angiomas, are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and service, to include herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and his employment difficulties are attributed to non-service connected factors.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the lack of access to his private medical records from Mid Carolina Cardiology. He was seeking payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred on July 28 and August 2, 2011.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during service, was not caused by active service, and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, right thumb disability, back disability, hypertension, and coronary artery disease have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has determined that hypertension is due to exposure to herbicide during service, specifically Agent Orange. The Veteran's claim for higher evaluation of PTSD remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and hypertension. The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied due to lack of a diagnosis, while the hypertension claim is pending as it may be secondary to his service-connected schizophrenia.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, may not be presumed to be and it is not secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, or PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for the entire period on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not service connected and denied both his claim for service connection and his TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death (invasive bladder cancer) was not related to his military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during active service and is not otherwise related to his military service, nor was it caused or permanently aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.