Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's cause of death (COPD and hypertension) was not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of a 10-year duration or continuous five-year period of total disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pes planus, hypertension, and a gynecological disorder due to new evidence received after the most recent Supplemental Statements of the Case (SOC). The Veteran should be afforded VA examinations to address her current diagnoses and determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back, neck, hip, and shoulder disorders, have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that can be linked to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings and service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the file.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of hypertension is remanded due to the need for a medical examination. The rating and effective date claims are denied.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted as secondary to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is also granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for memory loss has been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for swelling, deterioration of joints in feet, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate gland, brittle nail condition, and loss of feeling in left hand fingers.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression. The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and toenail fungus are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied service connection for a dental condition. The hypertension is linked to the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and is at least as likely as not caused by it.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II due to new evidence submitted. However, these claims are still pending as further medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, COPD, irritable bowel syndrome, and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience. The TDIU claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is due to his service-connected PTSD, which was established as a result of new evidence. The Board finds that the Veteran had diagnosed PTSD related to his World War II service and that this condition contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for tuberculosis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis due to insufficient evidence of a current disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to new and material evidence. The claims for sleep disorder, diabetes mellitus, residuals of left fibula fracture, neuritis of the left foot, and left ankle scars are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and hypertension due to insufficient opinions regarding their etiology. The VA will need to obtain additional medical records, conduct further examinations, and provide updated opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is denied as there is no competent evidence linking the condition to his active service.,Service connection for hypertension is also denied because it did not manifest during or within one year after service and is unrelated to service. The Veteran was diagnosed with hypertension in November 2012, many years post-service.,The claim for kidney failure is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the condition. Proteinuria alone does not constitute a compensable disability for VA purposes.,High cholesterol is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes and thus service connection cannot be granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last denial in February 1975, but remains denied as there is no evidence of such condition during or related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension and kidney disease secondary to service-connected lumbar strain, tinnitus, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision also remanded his claim for service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's claims for obesity, chest pain, hypertension, and hemorrhoids have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board has not determined whether these conditions are service-connected.,The Veteran argues that his current conditions are related to medications he takes for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and cataracts for accrued purposes due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for tinnitus was not reopened as the submitted evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, hypertension, acid reflux, pain in the bilateral feet, pain in the bilateral legs, and a nerve disability have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during active service or within one year following discharge.,While some medical records suggested possible diagnoses, they were not sufficient to establish continuity of symptomatology or a nexus between the current disabilities and service.