Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension with cardiomegaly has been reopened, but the appeal is being remanded due to a request of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the November 1997 rating decision.

The Veteran's bladder cancer and hypertension are being remanded for additional development as the Board is concerned about the sufficiency of the current evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is also being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not begin in service or during a period of ACDUTRA, and was not shown to be related to any service-connected condition. The residuals of stroke were also not granted as secondary to hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and diabetic retinopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional VA clinical records from his treatment providers.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not otherwise related to active service, including as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's left eye cataracts disability is found to be caused by his service-connected left eye lens opacification, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective December 16, 2009.,The Veteran's IBS is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective June 10, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since March 8, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether his service-connected conditions render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes are not related to his active duty service.,There is no evidence in the record showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest in service or within one year of separation, and is unrelated to his military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's hypertension was caused by any service-connected disability.

The Board determined that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during service, and thus denied his claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent for the period on appeal. A separate rating of 10 percent for limitation of motion was denied. The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a head injury and hypertension were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical nexus opinion due to inadequate previous opinions. The Veteran's hypertension claim is now before the Board again.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all issues, including the rating for hemorrhoids and service connection claims related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for restless leg syndrome is granted, as the evidence supports a finding that it began in service and has continued since.,Service connection for hypertension is denied, as there is no diagnosis of hypertension during or after service.

The Veteran's hypertension and prurigo nodularis were granted service connection as their onset was during his active duty service.

The Veteran is now service-connected for additional disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, cataracts, and hypertension. These conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 8, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and Hepatitis C due to new evidence. However, it denied these claims as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.