Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right inguinal hernia are rated as noncompensable. For the period on appeal, his bilateral hearing loss is considered incurred in or as a result of active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to chemicals during his service, and whether any such exposure contributed to his cause of death. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected schizoaffective disorder, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected hidradenitis suppurativa, hypertension, and donor site scars of the thighs are shown to be productive of an overall disability picture manifested by the Veteran being precluded from working at substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background. Therefore, a TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, and pulmonary hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected and the 1151 claim for VA treatment of hypertension was denied.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension existed prior to his period of active service and if so, whether it was aggravated during that time.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated during service and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for increased rating of peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity remains pending.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for nephropathy with hypertension was not proper, and thus restored secondary service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss issue is marked as 'unknown' due to lack of clear decision. TDIU remains granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various claimed conditions. The appellant's military service is also being reviewed to clarify her periods of active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be present during service and is not related to service.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected diabetes.,The Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities.,The Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all claims except for service connection for a psychiatric disability and alcoholism. The remaining claims are dismissed.

The Board has granted the appeal as to service connection for a scar of the right trapezius muscle. The appeals for hypertension, right eye dacryocystitis, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for low back strain have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not start during service and could not be presumed to have started within one year of his separation from service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran had transient problems with elevated blood pressure while on active duty, which resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further verification of service periods. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea are pending.

The Veteran's depression, hypertension and erectile dysfunction are being reviewed to determine if they are related to his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran is not entitled to commencement of the period of payment for VA compensation benefits prior to May 1, 2010 as his effective date was properly assigned on April 1, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling examinations to address the issues of increased rating for left superficial parotidectomy, service connection for bilateral calcaneal spurs, high blood pressure, and residuals of right side head injury.