Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and hypertension are related to his service, specifically due to herbicide exposure near the air base perimeter in Thailand. The claim for hypertension is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not the Veteran LW and therefore cannot establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's pes planus existed prior to service and was not aggravated by any in-service injury, event or illness. Therefore, it denied service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering whether an increased disability rating is warranted. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Services if a schedular award of TDIU is not possible.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to incomplete records and further development is needed, including verification of service dates and obtaining service treatment records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for hypertension, a skin condition, and a prostate condition. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for hypertension, either as directly incurred in service or due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's hypertension was also not shown to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bipolar disorder has been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis is being reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection for hypertension is also being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension, low back disability, and PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, and entitlement to service connection for a heart disability.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities and the establishment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.,The Veteran also seeks service connection for hypertension, removal of a brain tumor, and a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pinguecula is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, diagnosed as a depressive disorder, is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disability, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for a scar of the right lower extremity is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for a scar of the left lower extremity is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for the residuals of bronchopneumonia is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for defective vision is on appeal.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that hypertension was incurred in service or due to herbicide exposure, and determined it is less likely than not related to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder was granted, and the effective date for this grant is set at August 2, 2013. The claim for an earlier effective date for hypertension was also granted, with the effective date being May 14, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, reschedule examinations, and request the submission of a VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's essential hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, effective from November 23, 2015. The Board finds that a compensable evaluation is warranted for the period prior to November 23, 2015.

The Veteran's hypertension has not met the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his systolic pressure remained below 200 and diastolic readings were predominantly less than 110 throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus have been granted service connection, but the hypertension claim is denied. The initial rating for diabetes mellitus has been established at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues related to service connection for end stage renal disease, hypertension, and a chronic back disability. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the claim of service connection for hypertension.