Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal as he did not file a timely substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary for the claims on appeal, including for service connection of erectile dysfunction and hypertension secondary to PTSD with mood disorder, effective date and initial rating for Meniere's syndrome, and initial ratings for migraines and tinea versicolor.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including examinations and verification of exposure to chemicals or herbicides.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, heart disorder, kidney/renal disorder, and Parkinson's disease. The effective dates are not specified as the claims were granted in full.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for anxiety disorder. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be related to his military service, including presumed exposure to herbicides. For the anxiety disorder claim, the evidence did not show that it met the criteria for a higher initial disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep disorder, hypertension, mild cognitive impairment, a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, back disorder, restless leg syndrome, and erectile dysfunction. The decisions were based on the lack of established clinical diagnoses and the absence of evidence supporting secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC based on Aid and Attendance/Housebound was dismissed. The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on a total disability rating for a single disability and additional disabilities rated at 60 percent or more due to his combined service-connected disabilities not meeting the required percentage.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, urinary incontinence, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service or any service-connected disabilities.,The VA examiners provided negative opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnosis and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were not related to his service-connected disabilities or incurred in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not related to his active military service. The claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's hypertension had its onset during service and is currently rated at 50 percent disabling. The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to February 10, 2012, but not from that date onward. Prior to February 10, 2012, the Veteran's other service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD was granted, and the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his hypertension claim is addressed. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted, allowing the reopening of the previously denied claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is service connected, but his heart condition, hypertension, and OSA are not service connected as they did not develop during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 23, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding service connection for hypertension, kidney disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims are related to his service-connected knee disability.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent evaluation for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity, as well as a 40 percent evaluation for diabetes mellitus with hypertension.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining National Guard service records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's hypertension and left ear hearing loss claims are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and back conditions, as well as hypertension, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have hypertension in service and could not establish a link between his military service and his cause of death. The claim was denied.