Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his kidney disability, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran's other service-connected conditions have not been linked to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's skin condition, valvular heart disease, hypertension, and arteriosclerotic heart disease are not related to his active duty service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred in service or due to herbicide exposure. The Board found no evidence of Vietnam service and the appellant could not provide any records of alleged exposure.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hypertension and low back spondylosis were granted. For hypertension, a noncompensable rating was increased to a 10 percent rating throughout the appeal period. For low back spondylosis, a 20 percent rating was maintained prior to May 7, 2013, but no higher ratings are warranted on or after that date.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides or a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicides in Okinawa, as well as obtain additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for additional development to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition and hypertension were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's current heart disabilities and hypertension are related to service.

The Veteran's diabetes, hypertension, and bilateral cataracts are rated as part of the diabetic process. No separate compensable ratings for these conditions are warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is rated at 30 percent prior to July 30, 2012, and 20 percent thereafter. Service connection for hypertension remains denied.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent evaluation for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of each lower extremity, effective February 28, 2014.,The initial evaluations for hypertension and diabetic neuropathy remain denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, heart disorder, numbness on the left side of his body, right leg disorder (including right knee), and left leg disorder (including below-the-knee amputation) are not related to service. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board is remanding the case for a personal hearing with a Veterans Law Judge either via Travel Board or Videoconference, and to allow the Veteran to provide any additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, claimed as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examination.

The Board has determined that hypertension was incurred in service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction/impotence are all service-connected as secondary to his in-service herbicide exposure. The Board grants these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, cardiological disability, including hypertension, and right ear hearing loss are denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection on a direct basis.