Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension) is commensurate with marked interference with employment and presents an exceptional disability picture warranting a 10 percent extra-schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and asthma due to incomplete development, including a need for VA medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, as well as other issues, are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and medical opinions.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension during service or within one year after separation, and there is insufficient credible evidence to link the Veteran's current hypertension to his active service. The claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and bilateral knee disabilities did not have their onset in service, were not related to service, or manifested to a compensable degree within one year of separation. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of hypertension or residuals of carotid artery surgery, and therefore service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities are presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, including herbicide exposure. The tinnitus claim is being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including impingement syndrome and degenerative osteoarthritis of the shoulders, left shoulder, lumbosacral spine arthritis, Peyronie's disease with erectile dysfunction, and hypertension, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed in response to the April 2009 statement of the case, and thus denied his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lung cancer was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran contends that his hypertension is related to service in the National Guard. The Board finds it unclear whether this condition first manifested during a period of active duty for training and requests clarification from the Veteran regarding his periods of ACDUTRA. Further, attempts are made to obtain any relevant treatment records dating prior to May 1977.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the retrieval of outstanding VA treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board denied all claims, including those for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and organic diseases of the nervous system (other than already service-connected tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss). The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to a service-connected disability was also denied. No effective date earlier than May 29, 2013 for SMC benefits is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during or within one year of his separation from active duty service, and is not otherwise related to his active duty service. The same was true for his hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to in-service herbicide agent exposure and secondary service connection for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, and congestive heart failure as related to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.

The Board found that the appellant's hypertension and heart disability did not have their inception during service or within a presumptive period, and are not related to his active service. The Board also noted that there is no evidence of aggravation by any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current essential hypertension and pulmonary hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year of separation from service, were not caused by his service, and were not caused or aggravated by service-connected hemorrhoids and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not preexist his service and was not aggravated during service, leading to a denial of service connection. The GERD claim is also denied as it did not manifest within one year post-service and is not otherwise related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected diabetes and PTSD, and the claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.