Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, residuals of fracture of the left great toe, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder strain, and lumbar spine strain have been granted. The initial ratings assigned are noncompensable.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of hypertension, emphysema, jungle rot, or joint inflammation due to service. The evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in service and there was no link between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, to include as a result of Agent Orange exposure, increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are being remanded due to scheduling of a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected low back disability and therefore cannot be granted as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine have been granted service connection. The Veteran is assigned a 10% disability evaluation for hypertension, a 20% disability evaluation for diabetes mellitus, and a 10% disability evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine prior to March 16, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the conditions listed in his claims, and therefore, denied all of them.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected hearing loss and hypertension.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran's hypertension had its onset during service or within a year thereafter, and it is less likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and providing clarifying opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's initial increased evaluation for coronary artery disease from July 10, 2012 was granted to a 60 percent rating. His hypertension remains rated at noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his level of impairment does not warrant a higher evaluation under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and residuals of a stroke were not incurred or aggravated by his service. The earliest medical evidence of these conditions is dated many years after separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examinations and other procedural issues.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of COPD, hypertension, colon cancer, and prostate disability (to include BPH) as secondary to service-connected residuals of PTB. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are currently under review.

The Veteran seeks service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to determine if these conditions are related to his periods of active duty or ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cardiomyopathy with coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, posttraumatic stress disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, hypertension, and diabetic retinopathy, are being reviewed to determine if they render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not begin during service or within one year of discharge, and is not related to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current heart disorder and finds no evidence of hypertension being related to service or service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chronic fatigue syndrome and his reported fatigue symptoms are attributable to diagnosed depression and sleep apnea. The service connection for other conditions remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including verification of the appellant's periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).