Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, including consideration of whether his current condition was aggravated by his period of active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his VA treatment records and SSA disability records. The claims will be re-adjudicated based on the updated evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and a back disability have been dismissed due to his requests to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as any relevant Spanish-language records. The claim will be returned to the Board after this information has been reviewed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, lichen simplex chronicus (claimed as a head rash), and erectile dysfunction. The claim for prostate cancer will be remanded to determine its etiology.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant, through his authorized representative, requested withdrawal of the issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal includes issues of increased ratings for hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, and PTSD. The TDIU claim is also pending. These matters are being remanded to allow for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing all these issues.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition. The claims for back and right leg disabilities are pending due to the need for additional examination and opinion. The Veteran's hypertension and heart disability are also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for gout/joint pain and hypertension has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service or due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's diverticulitis and hypertension are related to his service, specifically any periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA service. The appeal is currently in remand status.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's hypertension began during his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA), and therefore, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated, and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not initially manifest in service and is less likely caused or aggravated by his diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of his separation from active duty and there is no evidence showing a direct link to his service. The Board also found that diabetes mellitus, type II predated his diagnosis of hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides, thus denying service connection for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions and determine appropriate ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and is not etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, diabetes mellitus, type II, heart disability (presumed to be atrial fibrillation or other cardiac arrhythmia), and hypertension were denied as service connection could not be established due to lack of evidence supporting herbicide exposure during service. The presumptive provisions for Agent Orange exposure did not apply.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, but denied the remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and degenerative bone disease.