Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and headache disabilities are found to be service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to address whether medications taken for service-connected right knee arthritis have aggravated the Veteran's hypertension. The examiner must specifically discuss chronic kidney disease and its role in the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, with associated complications, is rated at the highest possible schedular rating of 100 percent effective September 14, 2015.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not related to his diabetes mellitus type II. The evidence does not support a grant of service connection for hypertension.

The Board has ordered another remand due to the need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension. The case is now being returned to the AOJ for further development and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to address the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining records from a private physician and confirming the Veteran's dates of service. The Veteran's hypertension disability will be evaluated in more detail during the examination process.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment for the period prior to September 25, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as of January 3, 2012.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service, including exposure to herbicides. Service connection is denied for all issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for hypertension with cardiomegaly and TDIU prior to June 1, 2014 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent from July 1, 2006, or in excess of 60 percent from March 26, 2012.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities prior to May 23, 2016 is rated at 10 percent. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating for these conditions. His hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of such during service or within one year post-service.,Service connection for partial amputation of the left index finger was also denied, with the condition noted at service entrance and not aggravated by any in-service disease or injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and epistaxis, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, and is not otherwise related to service or a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, psychiatric disorder, COPD, and hypertension. The evidence received since the May 2009 rating decision is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, vertigo (including tinnitus), and hypertension. The claim of reopening the Veteran's eye disability is remanded due to new evidence received.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have resulted in the loss of use of both lower extremities, such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. Therefore, he is entitled to specially adapted housing.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and hypertension did not meet the criteria for service connection, as they were not shown to be related to his military service or due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated treatment records and a VA examination for his intervertebral disc syndrome. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.