Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral foot disability that had onset in service or is related to his active military service.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of a bilateral knee disability that had onset during service. The Veteran's current condition was diagnosed many years after separation from service and there is no medical opinion linking it to service.,The Veteran does not have a current heart condition that had onset in service or is related to his active military service, including his service-connected asbestos pulmonary disease.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of hypertension that had onset during service. The Veteran's current condition was diagnosed many years after separation from service and there is no medical opinion linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not develop in service and was not caused or aggravated by events in service. The Board also found that hypertension is not secondary to his service-connected CAD.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have originated during service and the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent since November 30, 2009, for hypertension with hypertensive retinopathy is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disorder, and upper and lower back disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, sleep apnea (secondary to GERD and PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and TDIU are denied. The Veteran's residuals of a left ankle condition do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and ischemic heart disease, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to August 28, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU rating based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pulmonary arterial hypertension is being remanded due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his condition and military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypertension did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and is not otherwise related to his military service or his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's hypertension is service-connected, but his heart disorder other than cardiomyopathy with coronary artery calcification and diabetes mellitus are not. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus remains at a 20% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and finds that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the nature and etiology of his left shoulder condition, hypertension, and benign hypertrophy of the prostate.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, respiratory disability (shortness of breath), and psychiatric disability (post-traumatic stress disorder).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and gastrointestinal disorder were not incurred in service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the issues for further development due to incomplete actions in prior remands. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection and a non-compensable rating for hypertension was denied. The Board found that the criteria for both conditions were not met.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for arterial hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents, as it was not addressed in the previous decision. The case is now pending with another VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension and found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for a heart disability.

The Board finds that the current hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to any in-service event, injury, or illness. The Veteran's lay and medical evidence does not support a finding of chronic symptoms of hypertension during service.

The Board has acknowledged the Veteran's service but needs to verify all periods of service, including a period from March 1962 to March 1965. Additional records need to be obtained and reviewed before any decision can be made.