Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, PTSD with major depressive disorder prior to May 24, 2012, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine from October 14, 2014.

The Board denied reopening the claims of service connection for hypertension, bilateral knee disability, diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a back disability. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his Vietnam service were found to be not supported by the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee strains and service-connected bilateral ankle sprains. The claim for secondary service connection for hypertension is therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension originated in service. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is remanded due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically attributable to his active service. The Board finds that the evidence of record supports a grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism has been rated at 100 percent disabling throughout the period on appeal, and his hypertension secondary to degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine is pending further development.

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.