Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and arranging for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to his diabetes mellitus.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, cervical and lumbar spine arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and stenosis are related to service exposure to herbicides. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to PTSD, was granted by the RO in a November 2013 Rating Decision.

The Board has not addressed whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy have been granted, but his petition to reopen a claim for service connection for hypertension remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted effective October 17, 2012. The effective date is based on the most recent VA examination conducted on that day.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, hypertension, eye disability, and blood clots as they are not related to active service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be service-connected, as there is evidence of elevated blood pressure readings in service and the current disability. The glaucoma claim remains pending.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis with headaches are rated under Diagnostic Code 6522, which considers polyps and nasal obstruction.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his prostate cancer. The claims for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and initial ratings for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and residuals of prostate cancer are also being remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted. The appeals for the other issues are withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeals are being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension, right knee disability, and PTSD have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not related to his right knee chondromalacia. The claim for secondary service connection was denied as there is no medical evidence showing a direct link between the service-connected condition and the development of hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims on a direct basis.

The Board has decided that further development is needed before the claim for service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to a service-connected anxiety disorder, can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's skin disorder is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a chronic condition in service or post-service. The Veteran's hypertension is secondary to PTSD and diabetes mellitus. For the period prior to June 20, 2013, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hip disability, and low back disability were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board dismissed the motion for revision of a decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) because an earlier effective date was awarded due to newly received relevant service treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle tension headaches, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle and joint pain, nausea, and hernia repair are being remanded due to new evidence received after a prior final denial.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected diabetes. The Board grants service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's service connection claims for spinocerebellar atrophy, hypertension, and basal cell carcinoma have been granted due to exposure to Agent Orange.