Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, impotence, and PTSD. The case is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's hypertension, skin disorder, and allergic rhinitis claims are being remanded for additional development as the VA examiners did not provide sufficient rationale or consider all pertinent evidence in their opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in permanent and total disability that is due to the loss or loss of use of one or both lower extremities, precluding locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. The claim for specially adapted housing has been granted.

The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA opinion on the relationship between his conditions and presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations on multiple service-connected disabilities has been withdrawn by the Veteran, and he is currently assigned a noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and respiratory disability. The issues on appeal are related to service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to incomplete development, including failure to adjudicate certain referred issues. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service, his hypertension is not linked to service or herbicide exposure, and his right elbow disability was not related to service. The claim for right elbow disability was granted.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for bronchial asthma, back disorder, plantar wart of the right foot, hypertension, heart disorder, and tinnitus due to a finding that the character of discharge barred VA benefits. The remaining issues are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. The claim for service connection for a skin rash on the right and left legs is denied as there is no credible evidence of persistent or recurrent symptoms since service.

The Veteran's death was caused by COPD, which is not service-connected. The Board found that the COPD was more likely due to his long history of smoking and did not stem from military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a prostate condition has been withdrawn.,Service connection for hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure) is denied. The evidence does not show that the condition was caused or aggravated by diabetes mellitus, PTSD, or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II has been rated at 20 percent since November 2006. Effective August 2015, the rating is increased to 40 percent.,Service connection for hypertension was denied as not due to herbicide exposure or being secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,Service connection for hepatitis A has been denied.,Service connection for a skin disorder has been denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and trypanophobia) has been denied. Service connection was granted for PTSD, but the Veteran's claim for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to PTSD remains pending.,Service connection for alcoholism as secondary to PTSD has not been established.,TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's IBS, hypertension, and sleep apnea are presumed to have been incurred as a result of his service in the Persian Gulf War. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran is not entitled to VA compensation benefits in lieu of military retired pay before September 17, 1998. The issue of the calculation of compensation benefits based on a September 17, 1998, election of compensation benefits in lieu of receipt of military retired pay is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's headaches have been granted a 50% rating effective June 24, 2014. He also received increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral knee instability from July 17, 2014. The RO has awarded him a TDIU prior to July 17, 2014.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability. The gastrointestinal disability, diagnosed as dyspepsia and chronic diarrhea, is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected fibromyalgia. Effective dates prior to July 27, 2011, have been granted for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and fibromyalgia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, SLE, bladder cancer, and Paget's disease of the bone. The reasons were that there was no evidence showing a direct link to service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for non-service connected pension with special monthly pension benefits prior to August 17, 2015 is granted. The Board found that the Veteran did not have excessive net worth and was in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and heart disability are not related to his active military service.