Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for aortic aneurysm status post dissection, grafting, and valve replacement. The appeal as to shin splints of the left leg and right leg was withdrawn prior to the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of diabetes mellitus, service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus, and earlier effective date for loss of use of bilateral lower extremities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating for diabetes mellitus or service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected epididymitis. The appeal is based on conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the epididymitis caused or aggravated hypertension.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for organic heart disease. The Veteran does not have PVD, a psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, hypertension, or a respiratory disability attributable to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypertension, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The decision also denied service connection for hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and hypertension was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service causation or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development of the record, including consideration of VA examination reports from February 2013.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of heart disease or hypertension, and thus the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for numbness and tingling of the fingertips and both hands (bilateral CTS), finding that it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's infertility does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,The Veteran's hypertension has required continuous medication but does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for a VA cardiologist's opinion on whether his hypertension was caused by service, or caused or permanently aggravated by his service connected PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for high blood pressure during active service and that it did not manifest within one year of separation. The Board also found insufficient medical opinion to support a secondary service connection based on PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the etiology of his hypertension and skin cancer. The issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU are also remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to exposure to herbicide or service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and service connection for joint problems, gout.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset in active service and the Board finds that it is related to his military noise exposure. The hypertension, while not directly linked to PTSD, may be aggravated by PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination, including obtaining medical records from various VA facilities and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, and urinary condition/prostatitis will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and opinions regarding hypertension and kidney disability.

The most probative evidence of record does not link the Veteran's hypertension to his service-connected PTSD, and thus, service connection for hypertension is denied.