Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for addendum opinions regarding heart disability and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service, including exposure to herbicides. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his bladder cancer and hypertension to his Vietnam service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dysthymic disorder was granted, and he is currently receiving a 70 percent rating. The RO denied the remaining issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for clarification of his periods of service and further medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for acid reflux and sleep apnea have been withdrawn. The Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his right ear, but he has left ear hearing loss for VA purposes. However, as this condition is not shown within one year following discharge from service, it cannot be presumed to have been incurred therein. Tinnitus was also not shown during service or within the first post-service year and thus cannot be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted. The claim for hypertension remains pending as further examination and opinion are needed to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause the need for aid and attendance, which has been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be presumed to have been incurred due to a lack of evidence showing it within one year post-service. The Board also found no continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking it to his military service or any other condition.

The Veteran's upper gastrointestinal disorder, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are not service connected as they were not diagnosed in service or within one year of separation. The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and either the Veteran's active military service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and is not otherwise causally related to his military service. The Board also found no evidence linking the Veteran's current hypertension to his service-connected right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and to obtain VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including verification of military service periods and obtaining updated VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these issues.,Service connection for lung cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea and TBI. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, tinnitus, left shoulder disorder, hypertension, low back disorder, and erectile dysfunction are all found to be related to his military service. Service connection is also granted for the extension of a temporary total evaluation due to right shoulder surgery.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from October 1, 2008 to September 10, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 29, 2010. From that date until the present, his PTSD alone does not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension and skin disorder, including squamous cell carcinoma, lipoma, actinic keratosis and angiomas, are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and service, to include herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and his employment difficulties are attributed to non-service connected factors.