Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as noncompensable, and the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities effectively result in the permanent loss of use of the bilateral lower extremities, which precludes locomotion without the aid of a cane, scooter, and/or wheelchair. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for specially adapted housing.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension was also granted with an effective date of May 15, 2006. However, he is not entitled to an earlier effective date for diabetic nephropathy as the earliest diagnosis was in December 28, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty or to service-connected residuals, fractured left ankle, status-post ORIF. Hypertension was not exhibited within the first post-service year.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for heart disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral foot disability, and left knee arthritis have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted, effective September 13, 2007. Effective dates of earlier dates are not applicable as the claims have been fully granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

Service connection for PTSD and diabetic nephropathy with hypertension was granted, effective February 24, 2009.,A TDIU was granted effective from February 24, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining post-service medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine strain, to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The claims for service connection for dyslipidemia and bilateral hearing loss disability have been granted. However, the claim for hypertension (to include as secondary to IHD) has not been resolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypercholesterolemia as due to herbicide exposure, hypertension and swelling of the left leg secondary to diabetes mellitus has been reopened. His diabetes mellitus is rated at a 20 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed as already granted in a November 2014 rating decision. The issue of service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is dismissed due to the grant by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development to obtain complete VA treatment records and SSA disability determination(s). The case will be readjudicated based on the additional evidence of record.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, stroke residuals, major depression, obesity, diabetes mellitus type II, PTSD, and a right leg/right foot disorder. The decision is based on the lack of evidence establishing a direct link between these conditions and military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's upper-respiratory disorder, hypertension, bilateral ankle disorder, and erectile dysfunction were not incurred in service or are not proximately due to any service-connected disability.,No effective date was assigned as the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's residuals of right clavicular fracture are manifested by recurrent dislocations and do not meet the criteria for ankylosis, but they have been limited to a range of motion no more than midway between side and shoulder level. The current evaluation is appropriate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosis within one year of separation from service and no competent evidence linking the current condition to either military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for pancreatic cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2, and hypertension. The right elbow disability claim is reopened but the issue remains pending as new evidence does not establish a direct causal link to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as their relationship to service-connected PTSD.