Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease. The claim of service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The evidence does not show a current diagnosis of hypertension for VA purposes, and the Veteran's hypertension is not shown to be related to service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to April 27, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and further development is needed.

The Veteran's obesity is aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's patellar tendonitis of the right knee is proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to his obesity.

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension, sleep apnea, and skin disorder have been withdrawn. The remaining claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and PTSD), pancreatitis, and diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to hypertension. Obstructive sleep apnea is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including Social Security Administration records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to address whether his current hypertension is secondary to his service-connected costochondritis.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from the VA examiner who provided the August 2011 VA examination and opinion report, addressing whether the Veteran's current hypertension disorder preexisted his period of service from February 2003 to January 2005, if so, whether it was aggravated during that period, and whether any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, prostatitis, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a link to military service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, drug dependency, gastrointestinal disability, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disability (excluding PTSD) have been denied. The Veteran's drug dependency is not service-connected as it was the result of willful misconduct.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling an examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further development, including obtaining service personnel records, verifying herbicide exposure, and obtaining private treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the readjudication of the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and a sleep disorder, both to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD, DM, and/or ischemic heart disease.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors are credible and have established a link to her current symptoms. The claim for hypertension remains denied as new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The Board requested additional development including obtaining medical records prior to 2004 and requesting an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder other than coronary artery disease and essential hypertension has been withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, review of new evidence, and compliance with procedural requirements.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and pseudofolliculitis barbae were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied both issues. The Veteran's hypertension was not present during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking it to service. His pseudofolliculitis barbae does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7806.