Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened, and he is now entitled to a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis remain denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year post-service, and there was no evidence linking it to service. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD or any other mental disorder related to his period of service. The Veteran's diagnosed sleep apnea and hypertension were also not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, kidney disability, respiratory disability other than lung cancer (including throat cancer), and sleep apnea due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service or presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma, bilateral heel spurs with plantar fasciitis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were not incurred or aggravated in service. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of dislocation of the right shoulder, medial meniscus tear and osteoarthritis of the right knee, and hypertension have been denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 20 percent for dislocation of the right shoulder prior to October 18, 2011, and 40 percent thereafter. For medial meniscus tear and osteoarthritis of the right knee, the Veteran's symptoms have been limited to extension functionally limited to not less than 90 degrees and extension limited to not more than 0 degrees. For hypertension, the evidence did not support a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiovascular disability, bilateral ankle and foot disabilities, and a skin rash disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant's request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that recovery of the overpayment in the amount of $31,525.27 is against equity and good conscience due to the Veteran's financial hardship and because considering his spouse's income would defeat the purpose of the VA pension program.

The Board has determined that a timely substantive appeal was not filed in response to the July 14, 2014 statement of the case denying service connection for prostate cancer (claimed as prostate condition), gout, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and preparing an addendum opinion from a VA physician regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination to address whether hypertension is secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional private treatment records related to his hypertension.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral knee and hearing loss, burn scar disability, obstructive sleep apnea, TBI, high blood pressure, back disability, and tinnitus. The effective date for the grant of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was not earlier than September 27, 2012.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to his military service and exposure to herbicides. The Board has determined that a VA medical examination is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that new evidence received since the prior final rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The Veteran's diabetes is related to his military service.