Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations and remanded the claims due to inadequate etiological opinions from a previous examiner. The Veteran's cardiac, brain, and hypertension disabilities are being evaluated for their relationship to his service-connected asbestosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during service, and therefore his claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension are granted as they are presumed related to such exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not make him permanently bedridden or unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Veteran is in receipt of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, but does not have a separate service-connected disability or service-connected disabilities rated at 60 percent or better and the Veteran is not permanently confined to his immediate premises as a result of service-connected disabilities. Therefore, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound has not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The claim of an increased evaluation for PTSD with polysubstance dependence remains pending.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disorder during service and denied the claim. Bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service or noise exposure, as there is no current disability meeting VA's definition of hearing loss. Diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and ED were also not linked to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hip disorders, including arthritis, are not related to his military service and thus cannot be granted service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein nor is it proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection for hypertension was therefore denied.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain pertinent medical records and clarify the opinions provided by the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's hypertension and COPD claims, particularly in relation to service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's hypertension and lumbar spine disability have not been found to warrant higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service or shown within one year of service, and is not otherwise related to service, including due to herbicide exposure or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions, and readjudicating his increased rating claim and TDIU issue.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board denied his claim. The VA examination report is inadequate for adjudicative purposes regarding bilateral pes planus, asbestosis, and a back disability.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and headaches, finding that the Veteran did not have a chronic condition in service or within one year of separation from service.,There is no evidence showing hypertension began during service or within one year after separation.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back and neck disabilities, finding that inactivity due to these conditions increased the severity of his hypertension.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for blindness, glaucoma, and hypertension due to inextricably intertwined secondary service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding no evidence of these conditions during active service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and a bilateral foot disability (residuals of frostbite), noting the absence of any in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, where he was exposed to herbicide agents. However, the claim will be remanded for further development including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA opinion on whether the Veteran's PTSD and/or major depressive disorder may have aggravated his hypertension.