Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and his symptoms are better explained by other conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia. Therefore, service connection for CFS is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents, and it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease. Therefore, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during service and therefore, his diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a direct relationship between his conditions and active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Guillain-Barre syndrome and Type II diabetes mellitus are not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied these claims. The Board also found no evidence of a current disability for other conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of hypertension and the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disorder and bilateral eye disorder are denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for new medical opinions regarding his hypertension, sleep apnea, and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is being remanded for an adequate VA medical opinion, and the left knee scar rating claim requires a de novo review due to new evidence submitted since the last SSOC. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not present in service and there has been no continuity of symptomatology since his active service. The Board also noted insufficient evidence to support a finding of service connection for residuals of stress fracture, right tibia.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at a 10% rating after July 10, 2013. Prior to that date, the condition was not considered compensable.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's heart disease and left leg blockage are being remanded as they may be related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right knee contusion, hypertension, and a kidney condition. However, no new and material evidence was found for the claim of service connection for a kidney condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining SSA records and determining if an extraschedular TDIU rating on his service-connected disabilities prior to September 23, 2009, is warranted.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease with hypertension was granted an evaluation of 80 percent effective August 7, 2014 and a separate 10 percent rating for hypertension effective February 13, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and vocational rehabilitation folder. The Veteran's claims for anxiety, headaches, breathing problems, and hypertension are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 70 percent disabling, effective October 18, 2010. Service connection for a back disability and hypertension have not been established.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and is therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right tonsil squamous cell cancer, Buerger's disease, and hypertension has been granted. The claims are based on direct service connection rather than a presumption or secondary to another condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of hypertension was denied, and his previously denied claim for service connection for diabetes due to hypertension was not reopened.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn with respect to the issue of service connection for community acquired pneumonia. The claim of service connection for hypertension was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. No current diagnoses were found for right shoulder disorder, gout, polyarthralgia, fibromyalgia, or chronic fatigue syndrome. Service connection was not granted for gastrointestinal disorder.