Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, including hypertension (HTN), kidney condition, liver disease, depressive disorder, and erectile dysfunction are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during active duty or within one year thereafter, and they have not been linked to his service-connected disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis or persistent and recurrent complaints of a chronic disorder to account for dizziness, hypertension, hernia, seizures, or respiratory disorder. The evidence does not show continuous symptoms since separation from service.

The Veteran's claim of secondary service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for further development.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is service-connected on a presumptive basis due to degenerative joint disease. His hypertension is also service-connected on a presumptive basis as isolated systolic hypertension.,For the remaining conditions, further examination and medical opinions are needed to determine if they are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension was found to be incurred in service. However, there is no evidence of skin cancer during or within one year after service and the claim for service connection for skin cancer is denied.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension, specifically whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions (diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy).

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a deviated nasal septum with partial obstruction and granted it, finding that new evidence supports reopening of the claim. The other claims remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision. The issue of hypertension is being remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for postoperative residuals of right internal carotid artery ligation, hypertension, and history of seizures was granted. The effective date is March 24, 2011.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including macules on the tongue, chronic bronchitis, asthma, chronic sinusitis, a heart disability, hypertension, carpal tunnel syndromes, bilateral pes planus, and psychiatric disabilities. The decision found no current disabilities or evidence of in-service incurrence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, uterine fibroids, and hemorrhoids since the specified dates. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of these cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The July 1971 rating decision assigned a noncompensable rating for hypertension based on the evidence of record, which did not show diastolic pressure consistently at or above 100. The Veteran's appeal for CUE was dismissed as there was no valid claim of CUE.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and no higher. The evidence shows that the Veteran requires continuous medication for control of his hypertension.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and thoracolumbar spine disability were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings in any of these cases.

The Veteran's lung disability, including sarcoidosis and pulmonary hypertension, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. However, the cause of death due to hepatitis C substantially contributed to his death.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's hypertension has not manifested with diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more during the initial rating period. Therefore, the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his SSA award letter and employment history information. A VA examination will be scheduled to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.