Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examinations. The issues include service connection for various conditions, a higher rating for his lumbar disability, and TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, eye problems, nerve damage, left arm neuropathy, and neuropathy of the right foot and heel as secondary to herbicide agent exposure. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the preponderance of the evidence is in favor of a relationship to service. Service connection was not established for diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to lack of exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete evidence. The Veteran's hypertension and peptic ulcer disease may be related to his service-connected conditions, but further examination is needed to clarify these relationships.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions of PTSD, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities rendered him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment prior to April 21, 2010.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection effective April 16, 2011. The Board also found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his PTSD since September 2004 and assigned a TDIU rating prior to March 10, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected hypertension and peripheral vascular disease. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were all denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the previously denied claims of TB tine test residuals and tinnitus, and granted service connection for these conditions.,Service connection was also granted for gout of both feet and an eye disability other than hypertensive retinopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a psychiatric examination, and providing an opinion on the etiology of various conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn in its entirety.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic pharyngitis, erectile dysfunction, allergic conjunctivitis, back disability, headaches, left shoulder and elbow disabilities, enlarged heart with chest pain and abnormal EKG, hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, and hyperthyroidism. The reasons were that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's valvular heart disease and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.,For the remaining issues, the decision will be provided separately.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for new and material evidence to reopen the stroke, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy claims was granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it did not meet the requirements for filing an appeal, specifically due to the Veteran not submitting a VA Form 21-0958 within one year of the April 2015 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal, kidney condition (nephropathy), heart disorder, and right arm disorder are not service connected due to lack of evidence showing their onset during or within one year after service. The hypertension claim is also denied as it did not manifest within a year of discharge.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with the exception of his claim for service connection for a muscle cramp disability over the flank region. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability.,Service-connected disabilities did not cause the Veteran to be in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound before his death.

The Veteran's hypertension is service-connected as a result of the current diagnosis. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have dizziness and fainting due to military service, but rather these symptoms are associated with his diagnosed cardiac disorder.