Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea are related to his service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is found to be related to service, and his HTN is found to be proximately due to his cystic kidneys. The heart disorder is also found to be proximately due to the Veteran's HTN.,The Veteran has a psychiatric disorder that is proximately due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a toxicologist regarding potential herbicide exposure and examining the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension and found that new and material evidence has been received. The issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension will now be adjudicated on its merits.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo and is considering multiple other claims, including those related to sleep apnea, Peyronie's disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, liver condition, COPD, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a chronic disability related to pre-diabetes and hyperglycemia. The Veteran has not met the criteria for service connection in all cases.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension claim, specifically addressing his in-service nosebleed and blood pressure reading.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, prostate cancer, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ. The claim for bilateral eye disorder was reopened but not granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of hypertension and providing an SOC on issues related to effective dates and disability ratings.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and hypertension has been granted, with the PTSD being secondary to his hypertension. The initial rating for hypertension remains at 10 percent. Service connection for depression is also granted as secondary to hypertension. However, TDIU is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's chronic stomach problem (GERD) is service-connected. The Board has granted the reopening of his claim for this condition, but denied claims for residuals of an upper back injury and shortened left leg due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or aggravation by service. Service connection was not established for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's onychomycosis of the feet was rated as noncompensable from December 11, 2009 to October 27, 2014 and a compensable rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's hypertension was rated as noncompensable from December 11, 2009 to October 26, 2014 and a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to clarify the etiology of his left eye glaucoma, hypertension, and coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and impotence. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea is presumed due to his service in a unit operating near the demilitarized zone. Service connection is granted for these conditions as they are presumed related to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for gout, allergic rhinitis and/or sinusitis, skin lesions of the bilateral lower extremities, migraine headaches, heart arrhythmia, and hypertension were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The Veteran's low back condition was also denied due to lack of clinical diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for hypertension, right eye disability, and an increased rating for asthma. The Veteran must submit a timely substantive appeal if he wishes to proceed with these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and onychomycosis due to in-service herbicide exposure. The case must be returned for further development, including obtaining a new medical opinion regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the current schedular ratings adequately reflected his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension leading to a stroke, claimed as secondary to PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.