Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are being remanded due to inadequate development of the medical evidence.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety and undifferentiated somatoform disorder, effective August 31, 2010. The decision also addresses an earlier effective date claim for the increased rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, hypertension, and irritable bowel syndrome. The evidence does not support the presence of these conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's initial application for service connection for coronary artery disease was received by VA on April 13, 2000. The RO granted service connection for coronary artery disease effective April 13, 2000. The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence showing a history of tinnitus dating back over 20 years.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss remains denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except GERD and bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, as his audiometric results do not meet VA criteria for such a disability. For GERD, the Veteran was provided with an opportunity for a VA examination but no opinion could be rendered without resorting to speculation.

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.