Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all found to be related to his service in Vietnam. The effective date for the benefits is not specified.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen his claim of whether his character of discharge constitutes a bar to payment of VA compensation benefits, finding that new and material evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and employment records from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and former employer (USPS). A new VA examination will be conducted to assess the effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment and to determine whether his hypertension is caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider his claims of service connection for various conditions including diabetes mellitus, heart disability, hypertension, enlarged prostate, and respiratory disorder. The claims will be considered based on herbicide exposure, lead-based paint exposure, and asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension has not met the criteria for a compensable rating prior to August 22, 2013, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Board dismissed the motion for revision of a March 2015 decision that denied service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension due to withdrawal by the moving party's representative.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for defective vision, memory loss, fatigue, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability that can be attributed to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion addressing whether his hypertension is related to his conceded Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not reflect that the Veteran has had a mole removed from the left arm or a related keloid. Therefore, service connection for mole removal/keloid, left arm is denied.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for the Veteran's heart condition, hypertension, and sleep apnea as they are related to his service-connected PTSD. The claims of service connection for an enlarged prostate and gallstones have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and whether they are related to service. The claims will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for hypertension, skin cancer, multi-myeloma cancer, hearing loss, and tinnitus must be remanded due to incomplete development. The Veteran's claims are inextricably intertwined with his claim for hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA medical records and scheduling a new VA examination. Additionally, an effective date earlier than June 8, 2015, for the grant of a 100 percent rating for end stage renal failure with hypertension needs to be addressed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues on appeal prior to the Board issuing a final decision.

Service connection for anxiety disorder was granted, with an initial rating of 30 percent effective December 3, 2004.,An increased rating to 50 percent for anxiety disorder prior to August 24, 2015, and a higher 50 percent rating thereafter.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and ischemic heart disease, contributed to his death due to a motor vehicle accident. The cause of death is therefore determined to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hypertension and its relation to service, as well as other issues related to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, including dysphagia, neck disability, back disability, right shoulder disability, sinus disability, hypertension, sleep disturbance, and loss of vision of the right eye, based on presumptive service connection due to active military service.

The Veteran's left patellofemoral chondromalacia and subluxation are related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).,Service connection is denied for allergic rhinitis.,Service connection is granted for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to PTSD.,Service connection is granted for a left knee disorder.,Service connection is granted for cardiovascular disorder (claimed as sinus tachycardia), secondary to PTSD.