Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist sprain and right ankle sprain was received on April 10, 2014. The Board finds that the earliest claim for entitlement to benefits for both a left wrist sprain and a right ankle sprain was received on April 10, 2014.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and anxiety), cervical spine disability, hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and low back disability are all related to his active service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private vocational rehabilitation records, arranging for a VA examination to determine the etiology of obesity, and scheduling a VA Social Industrial Survey to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on employability.

The Board has found that further development is needed for VA to fulfill its duties under the VCAA, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the likely cause of the Veteran's hypertension and whether it is related to his military service or diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Board has determined that a rating of 30 percent, but no higher, is warranted for the Veteran's service-connected heart murmur with mitral valve prolapse. The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hyperlipidemia has been denied. The Board found that hyperlipidemia is not a disability for which compensation can be granted under VA regulations. For the hypertension issue, the case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding its relationship to herbicide exposure and/or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for hepatitis C and hypertension have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims by the Veteran at a Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for diabetic nephropathy have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that hypertension, diagnosed many years after service, is not etiologically related to service or service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2 and therefore denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of all pending claims before the Board.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for swelling joints, sinusitis, bilateral pes planus, and sleep apnea. The remaining service connection issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a heart disorder, and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions in July 2015. The Veteran's current cardiac disability and hypertension are being reviewed by an appropriate physician to determine their relationship with his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current conditions, such as tension headaches and tinnitus, were incurred during his military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to in-service exposure to herbicides. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes, coronary artery disease with cardiac valvulopathy (CAD), and transient ischemic attack associated with hypertension (TIA) have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of higher ratings under applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether his current tinnitus is related to acoustic trauma in service. The appeal of hypertension was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision.

The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction have been rated based on the criteria provided in the rating schedule. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted for either condition.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of actual in-country service or exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, morbid obesity, dysmetabolic syndrome (insulin resistance syndrome), hypothyroidism/chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT), hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, fatigue, edema, skin tags, acanthosis nigricans, and striae. The Board found that there was no current disability for hypertension or morbid obesity, and the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of the other conditions.