Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has hearing loss and hypertension, as well as whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claims will be remanded for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding the onset of these conditions in relation to his military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, including whether it was aggravated by his 1991 service or related to any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and hernia were not incurred or aggravated during service, and thus denied these claims. The Veteran's current diagnoses of hepatitis C and a bilateral ankle disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records from Emporia and any private medical records, as well as his Social Security Administration disability records. The Veteran will also be provided with new VA examinations for his hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is a significant factor in his erectile dysfunction and hypertension, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, coronary artery disease, allergic rhinitis, recurrent skin rash in scalp, neck and back, and fungus infection of feet are granted. The Board finds that the current conditions are likely due to his lengthy active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of active otitis externa with symptoms warranting a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6210, and his hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7101. For idiopathic spasms of the legs, the Veteran's leg spasms were found to be mild based on the provided information.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records, SSA records, and treatment records. The VA will also schedule a VA examination to determine if there is any relationship between post-service hypertension and in-service findings.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA in the Army National Guard. The issue of service connection for residuals of status post knee replacement will be remanded for readjudication.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was granted, as it had its onset in service and is related to his reported combat experiences. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic hypertension and chronic coronary artery disease are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current neck, lower back, and hypertension disabilities. Specifically, VA examinations are required to address whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by his active military service and is not related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, varicose veins of the right lower extremity, and right knee degenerative joint disease with effusion do not warrant higher ratings as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of those currently assigned.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's claims for eye disability and hypertension remain pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for the issues of service connection for carpel tunnel syndrome of the left hand and hypertension, as well as the increased rating claims for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these matters.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current hypertension and his service-connected lumbar spine condition, as well as whether it was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, acid reflux, and hypertension as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence of current diagnoses or a link between the conditions and service.