Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which necessitates a grant of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

Service connection for hypertension has been granted.,An effective date of June 18, 2012, is assigned for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea. ,The claim for earlier effective date for right Achilles tendonitis is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to service and denied his claim. For PTSD, the Board noted that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas as required for a higher rating.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding increased ratings for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, right ankle degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine degenerative changes, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic branch), right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, heart disorder, and other related conditions. The appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. The VA examiner found that the Veteran did not meet all criteria for PTSD and his symptoms were better explained by other diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for most of his claimed conditions and finds no evidence to support service connection for these disorders. The only condition found by the Board with a possible link to service is dementia, but this was many years after service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's hypertension was not related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether an extraschedular evaluation is warranted for hypertension, as the Veteran's symptoms of pounding headaches and dizziness are not contemplated by the relevant rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder, and hypertension were denied in July 2005. The Veteran did not appeal these decisions or submit new and material evidence within a year of the decision.,No new and material evidence was received to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's heart disability was rated at 10 percent prior to September 14, 2010 and at 30 percent from September 15, 2010 onwards.,The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as 30 percent since September 15, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to service, including herbicide agent exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete records.

The Veteran did not have Hodgkin's lymphoma, hypertension, or hypertensive heart disease during the period on appeal. The Board found no evidence of service connection for these conditions and denied them based on direct service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, including herbicide exposure. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, skin disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral foot disorder, neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hypertension, were denied as they are not attributable to his time at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is of service origin and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and DEA was granted effective from October 16, 2009. The Board finds that an earlier effective date is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran seeks compensation for hypertension, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to inadequate examination and the need for an opinion on whether hypertension is caused or aggravated by diabetes.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension during service or within one year after discharge, and thus denied the claim for service connection.