Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and migraines are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant service treatment records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claim.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and cerebrovascular accident, hearing loss, tinnitus, bronchitis, and sinusitis for purposes of accrued benefits due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by service, including presumed herbicide exposure during service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year of service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure status post right and left upper lobectomy has been manifested by post-surgical residuals of pulmonary hypertension throughout the appeal period. The Veteran is granted a total disability rating (100 percent) for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including verification of herbicide exposure.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent. An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the heart attack with stent implantation is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral flat foot (pes planus) and plantar fasciitis. The remaining issues of service connection for left knee condition, hypertension, myocardial ischemia/infarction, right knee arthritis, sleep apnea, and left shoulder condition are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lumbar spinal stenosis with herniated lumbar disc and myelopathy, and eye disability (mature senile cataract). The Veteran did not provide new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest within one year of separation from active service and is not related to exposure to Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for service connection for hypertension is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary in order to determine the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation and herbicides, as well as whether he is entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension with left hydronephrosis was granted a 100 percent evaluation for the period prior to August 13, 2013.,For the period on and after August 13, 2013, both chronic kidney disease and hypertension were rated at their maximum of 80 percent and 10 percent respectively.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and liver disability to obtain additional medical opinions, as well as to obtain VA treatment records. The Veteran is also referred to have his claim for service connection for alcohol dependence secondary to service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood adjudicated.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, colon disorder, and right leg vascular disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.