Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection for polycythemia and hypertension were denied. The claim for an increased initial evaluation for dementia and anxiety disorder due to pituitary tumor was granted, with a rating of 50 percent effective November 2, 2011. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for postoperative residuals of an incisional hernia remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred in service, as it existed prior to entry and is not shown to have been aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension and erectile dysfunction have been rated as noncompensable since the grant of service connection. The Board finds that the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran and his representative have withdrawn their appeals regarding the claims for bilateral eye disability including optic atrophy, hypertension, and a skin disability. The Board has dismissed these issues.

The Veteran's death was not determined to be service-connected, but the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied due to lack of total disability rating.

The Veteran claims that his hypertension is related to his service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus. The VA examiner's opinion was not based on a review of the complete evidence, and additional medical examination is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, hypertension, tinnitus, right wrist degenerative joint disease, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral hearing loss, and a right wrist scar, are considered in determining whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest within one year of separation from service and was not incurred or aggravated by military service. The claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for lung disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, kidney disorder, and hypertension all due to exposure to Agent Orange, toxins, and jet fuel.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings, an effective date assignment, and service connection for various conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain outstanding treatment records from Waycross Orthopedics and to issue a Statement of the Case regarding the effective date claim.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and denied a higher initial disability rating for asthma. The Veteran's hypertension was incurred in service, while his asthma does not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The case has been remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure has been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable rating from November 24, 2009 to February 9, 2012. The RO found that the Veteran's diastolic pressure did not predominantly reach 100 or more during this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left wrist disability does not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture warranting extra-schedular consideration. The TDIU claim is also denied as it is not supported by evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these disabilities to active service.

The Board finds that dysthymia is proximately due to service-connected eczema and grants the claim for service connection on a secondary basis. However, hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not related to a service-connected disability, so the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, chronic eye pain, and chronic bone and body pain (including shoulder, arm, and back pain) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Veteran did not provide credible evidence of exposure to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange during his time in Germany.