Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims of service connection for hypertension, a bilateral knee injury and sinusitis (claimed as a sinus condition).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced stressors during his active duty in Grenada, which are corroborated by other evidence of record. The Veteran has PTSD as likely as not related to these verified stressors.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral cataracts, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, peripheral vascular disease of the left and right lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated information from DoD regarding herbicide exposure in Guam.

The Veteran's low back disorder was incurred in service and the Board finds that service connection for this disability is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to attend the scheduled videoconference hearing at the Portland, Oregon RO. His request for a hearing at the Albuquerque, New Mexico, RO has been noted.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of persuasive evidence that a disability incurred in or aggravated by service caused or contributed to the Veteran's death. The new evidence submitted since the October 2010 decision is cumulative and does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a combined effects medical examination and opinion. The current evidence does not support his claim of unemployability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board finds that an addendum opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's current hypertension may be directly related to active duty service and whether it was caused by service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Board finds the evidence at least in equipoise that hypertension may be related to PTSD or herbicide exposure, and an upper and lower back disorder may be related to service. These issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that an effective date prior to January 21, 2008, for diabetes mellitus is not warranted. The claims for hypertension, left bundle branch block, disability of both hands, arms, feet, and hips are reopened.

The Veteran's skin disorder, claimed as jungle rot due to in-service herbicide exposure, is not service-connected.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected and was not caused or aggravated by the service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is service-connected and his cardiovascular disease, including CAD and hypertension, may be secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder. The remaining issues are addressed as well.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, sleep apnea, and a neck disability. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from November 21, 2003, but his TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, liver disease, neuropathy, and skin cancer. The appeal is mixed as some issues are granted while others are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, urinary incontinence associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, hypertensive heart disease, patellar subluxation of both knees, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a video conference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's hypertension has not met the criteria for a compensable rating during the appeal period. The Board found that his diastolic pressure was predominantly less than 100 and systolic pressure was predominantly less than 160, which does not meet the requirements for a higher rating under DC 7101.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and asking the Veteran to provide or identify any relevant medical records.

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