Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's hypertension is not related to his active service, or his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or coronary artery disease. The Board finds the VA examiners' opinions highly probative in determining that the current hypertension is not related to service, including in-service herbicide exposure (Agent Orange), or secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or coronary artery disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, both secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for hypertension and supraventricular arrhythmia were denied. The effective date of service connection for supraventricular arrhythmia was also not granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing opinions regarding the etiology of his stomach disorders, cerebrovascular accident residuals, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune and anxiety disorder, is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension and pseudofolliculitis barbae disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the hypertension receiving a 10 percent rating effective December 15, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right finger posttraumatic degenerative joint disease was denied as the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation.,Service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss were both denied due to lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for tinnitus was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his arthritis claim. The diabetes and kidney disease claims were also denied as they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart condition, including hypertension and coronary artery disease, is presumed to be related to his service due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for tinnitus was also granted.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease with hypertension is rated at 30 percent prior to March 27, 2012 and remains at 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hypertension were denied, while his claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are all remanded due to the intertwining of issues and his request for a Board hearing. The right eye disability claim is related to hypertension, which in turn is linked to kidney disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, hypertension, right ear hearing loss, and asthma have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an in-service incident or event related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and a 10 percent rating was assigned. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings and earlier effective dates are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions were denied, with the exception of service connection for allergic rhinitis from February 20, 2007 through March 9, 2008. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen his claim for a testicular disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain his SSA records and provide addendum opinions regarding the etiology of his cardiac disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not occur in service and is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or any herbicide exposure. The condition was determined to be due to normal progression.