Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied, and his TDIU prior to April 19, 2010, was granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his legal guardian withdrawing the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension is not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type 2 is presumed to have been incurred in active military service due to exposure to herbicides. The claims for prostate disability, hypertension and residuals of renal carcinoma are being remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, stroke residuals, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet did not begin during or were otherwise caused by his military service. The conditions are therefore not service-connected.

The Board found no current diagnosis of a left knee condition and denied service connection for hypertension due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The Veteran's hypertension was not considered a presumptive disability.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is related to active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type 2 are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II contributed substantially or materially to his death by causing debilitating effects and general impairment of health rendering him materially less capable of resisting the effects of hypertension and attendant complications. As a result, the Board finds that the criteria for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death have been met.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not present during service or within one year of discharge, and it is not otherwise causally related to his active military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been caused by herbicide-agent exposure during active duty service. The Board finds reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and grants service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and requesting that the Veteran provide competent evidence of current disability. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of any disability found, and their relationship, if any, to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during active duty in Thailand. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and vision impairment are secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's hypertension, GERD, prostate disability (benign prostatic hypertrophy), and lung disability (COPD) were not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition. The Board denied these claims.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension as the evidence does not show that it was present in service or until many years thereafter, and is not related to service.,Prior to February 8, 2010, the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder with anxiety were manifested by occupational and social impairment comparable to reduced reliability and productivity. From February 8, 2010 onwards, the impairment was more severe.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a neck disability or hypertension, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.,There was no evidence of a current diagnosis in the medical records provided by VA.

The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are not service-connected as they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes and/or PTSD.,For the appeal period prior to July 30, 2009, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. For the appeal period since July 30, 2009, the PTSD rating remains at 70%. The diabetes has been rated at 20%, as it does not result in complications other than already service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is attributable to in-service herbicide exposure, and his heart disability other than coronary artery disease was not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence or argument linking any of the claimed disabilities to service, and thus service connection for osteoarthritis, hypertension, upper respiratory tract infection, COPD with chronic bronchitis, and hypertensive cardiovascular disease cannot be established.