Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and residuals of a left hamstring tear, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions worsened during active duty. The claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, hypertension, and tinea corporis remain pending as new evidence was not received to reopen them.

The Board has received a withdrawal of the appeal from the appellant, and therefore, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been presented to reopen the claims for hypertension and sinusitis and bronchitis due to allergies, but denied service connection on the merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and a respiratory disorder are denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions being related to his military service or any incident of service origin.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions and their secondary effects, as well as the need for additional medical records and examinations. The case is being remanded to obtain these records and conduct further evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The claim for service connection for hypertension and kidney disease remains pending.

The Veteran's hypertension is service connected as a result of herbicide exposure. The claims for erectile dysfunction, chronic kidney disease and pancreatitis are not addressed in the decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity gout, but denied service connection for hypertension and left arm disability (claimed as osteoarthritis).,Service connection was established for right lower extremity gout based on a diagnosis of gout in the left lower extremity. The Veteran's gout in the right lower extremity is considered part of this underlying systemic disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the exception of a few issues. The Board found that the Veteran had current diagnoses and credible evidence supporting his reported stressors related to combat experience in Vietnam. Service connection was established for PTSD based on exposure to hostile military activity.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is denied as the evidence does not support a diagnosis of CFS.,The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted given his blood pressure readings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hypertension, heart disease, and cervical spine disorder with upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and addressing whether the Veteran's asthma and hypertension are caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of Hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension as they are not related to his active duty service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal due to her withdrawal of appeals for reopening service connection claims and denied her increased evaluations for right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues related to his spine, joints, and skin conditions is dismissed due to withdrawal. The Board grants service connection for PTSD with depression.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of increased ratings for ulcerative colitis with sclerosing cholangitis and esophageal varices and portal hypertension are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, stroke as secondary to hypertension, and sleep apnea. Hypertension is found to have been aggravated by service. The stroke was caused by the now-service-connected hypertension. Sleep apnea is considered to have had its onset during the Veteran's period of active service from October 2003 to February 2005.