Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service, is not due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability, and is not related to herbicide exposure. As such, service connection for hypertension cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 20 percent, and her service connection claim for status post-operative right renal artery aneurysm is granted.

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, may not be presumed to have been incurred therein, and is not proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims of service connection for right shoulder disability, prostate disability, and hypertension. The Veteran's current right shoulder disability is considered incurred in or related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated based on the criteria for a 10 percent rating due to occasional dizziness and light-headedness, but not meeting the criteria for an increased 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II requires prescription medication including insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents, restricted diet, and regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities). The disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinea pedis, chronic kidney disease with kidney failure, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, and hypertension. The decision was based on the lack of evidence supporting a secondary service connection theory.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, sleep apnea (secondary to herbicide exposure), an irregular heartbeat, and hypertension. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (coronary artery disease, diabetes, small fiber diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities associated with diabetes, hypertension associated with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities associated with diabetes, and erectile dysfunction) were rated 80 percent combined and shared a common etiology. They are shown to have rendered him incapable of maintaining regular substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD and an effective date earlier than December 7, 2008 for the grant of service connection for PTSD are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right thumb disability does not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture with related factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization, and thus did not warrant a referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied service connection for a gynecological disorder, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression). The Veteran's claims were based on direct service connection.,There is no evidence of any gynecological disorders during or immediately following service. Hypertension was not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is caused by his diabetes mellitus, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. However, the hypertension was not found to be caused or aggravated by his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery/ischemic heart disease, a skin condition, and a thyroid disorder related to herbicide exposure were denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or within the presumptive period. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection on any basis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and medical inquiry, including a new examination of the Veteran's left knee and hypertension/chronic renal failure. The claims will be readjudicated in light of all evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD, as well as his claims for various other disabilities. The Board found that there was no legal merit to these claims.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and an eye disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service. The hypertension was not shown to be related to his diabetes mellitus, and the eye disabilities were not found to have been caused or aggravated by his diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and obtaining updated VA treatment records.