Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction are not fully developed, and thus requires additional development including a VA examination.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected residuals of ingrown toenails, left great toe and hypertension. The rating for chondromalacia, status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with residual scars, left knee remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with new VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, arterial sclerotic cardiovascular occlusive disease with partial arterial obstruction, cardiovascular disease, status post coronary artery bypass grafting, chronic renal insufficiency, and hypertension based on substitution.,Service connection is also granted for erectile dysfunction and bilateral peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the now service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability has been granted, with the assigned rating of 20 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not manifested during his active military service, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service, and is not shown to have manifested within one year from the date of his separation from the military. The Board also determined that it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease or Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to address whether the Veteran's hypertension was caused by in-service herbicide exposure and if service-connected disabilities aggravated any current hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and its complications, as well as his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for an upper and lower back condition was also denied, with no evidence showing such conditions during service or at present. The eye condition claim was granted on a secondary basis to diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hypertension or a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and entitlement to a TDIU have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn them.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease effective July 26, 2011. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for service-connected hypertension and entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to unclear development and lack of evidence on these issues.

The Board denied service connection for sarcoidosis, diverticulitis, and hypertension. The appellant's claims were not related to his active military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on October 2, 2013 at JPI were not for an emergent condition and did not meet the prudent layperson standard. Therefore, payment or reimbursement is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused or aggravated by her service-connected sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, and therefore denied her claim for secondary service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service, and denied the claim as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and service.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records from the Veteran's post-service employer, The Philadelphia Gas Company. This includes obtaining triennial physical examination records that may be relevant to determining the etiology of hypertension and any diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's heart disorder and hypertension, both potentially related to in-service herbicide exposure. The claims are being remanded for these evaluations.