Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board denied reopening the claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for Parkinson's disease was also denied as there is no service connection based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents, and the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam or any qualifying service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is service-connected due to presumed exposure in Vietnam. The hypertension issue remains pending as an addendum opinion is needed.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The appeals for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were dismissed due to withdrawal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no competent evidence showing the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes or ureterolithiasis disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hypertension, loss of taste/smell, skin disorder (acne), sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, gout, and vestibular disorder are granted. The service connection is established on a direct basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension and onychomycosis (nail condition), finding that there was no evidence of a nexus to service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was found not to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension were denied as there was no evidence of chronic symptoms in service or continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran served in the United States, not Vietnam, and there is no indication of herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The independent medical opinion concluded that ECT treatment for PTSD did not cause the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service at Takhli RTAFB. His erectile dysfunction and bilateral cataracts are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, while ischemic heart disease and hypertension are not found to be related to service.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for service connection for cause of death, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, and accrued benefits due to lack of evidence showing a service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore denied claims for service connection for cause of death, DIC benefits, and accrued benefits based on pension claim.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for various conditions, but denied them on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 30 percent disability rating since January 7, 2013. The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.,PTSD was granted with a rating of 70 percent effective from March 12, 2004 to February 10, 2017. The claim for an increased rating beyond this period is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension and hemorrhoids have been evaluated as noncompensably disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation for either condition.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability, or that any claimed disabilities may be related to service. Therefore, the claims for sleep apnea, hypertension, gout, migraine headaches, and psychiatric disability were denied.

The Veteran's hypertension and headaches are service-connected. Service connection for a groin disability, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral shin splints, skin disorder, and erectile dysfunction is not established. The Veteran has an extraschedular rating for his lumbar spine condition and the claim for a higher PTSD rating was denied.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now entitled to a temporary total disability rating for convalescent purposes following surgery for fungus infection of the feet from March 1, 2010 to April 1, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rectal cancer, mitral valve prolapse, and pulmonary hypertension were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to his active service.