Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder), obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities. The rating reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also granted.

The Board found that the appellant's hypertension, nose bleeds, and shortness of breath were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to determine the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure or follow gainful employment.

The Veteran's stroke with residual TIAs is found to be causally related to his service-connected hypertension, and thus service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left ear hearing loss, hypertension, infertility, insomnia, vertigo, and migraines. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for residual scars, first degree burns of the face. The Veteran's other claims have also been denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,The Veteran has no service-connected disabilities, which precludes entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vertigo is not related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The issue of hypertension was remanded but no decision has been made yet.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and service connection for hypertension, including as due to herbicide exposure and secondary to PTSD, was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified bipolar disorder, is found to be at least as likely as not incurred during service. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple lipomas, bilateral kidney disorder, hypertension, fatigue, memory loss, right lung disorder, and bladder disorder are all denied as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or PTSD. The Veteran's high cholesterol claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reopened, but the Board is remanding all of his claims to obtain additional development and opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for consideration of new evidence and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected diabetes mellitus, as well as the potential association with Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran is also presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional information and medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of DMII, CAD, and HTN were not incurred in or as a result of service. The evidence does not support exposure to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange (AO) during active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and a low back condition due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions were incurred in service.