Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's hypertension has not been shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a supplemental opinion from a nephrologist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including hypertension, bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left jaw disability, head disability, right leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and back disability, were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service onset. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct service incurrence.

The Board has not determined the validity of all issues on appeal, as some are related to reopening previously denied claims. The Veteran's left foot injury claim and hypertension claim have been reopened due to new evidence submitted. However, service connection for constipation, bruising condition, gynecomastia, and dizziness remains denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependence. The skin rash is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents used in support of military operations in Vietnam during the Vietnam era.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension began during service and is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is not shown to be due to herbicide exposure, manifest more than one year after separation, or causally related to an in-service event, injury or disease. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence weighs against a finding that the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 22, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to a 90 percent disability rating, rendering him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for additional development to determine its etiology, including consideration of herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and irritable bowel syndrome due to potential issues with the medical opinions provided. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected diabetes mellitus as well as presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, diagnosed as pes planus, was incurred during her third period of active duty service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise to show that hypertension, skin disorders, and allergic rhinitis are secondary to her service-connected asthma disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request in a letter dated April 2017.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The issues include seeking increased disability ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected due to acoustic trauma. His diabetes mellitus with hypertension and retinopathy, along with its associated neuropathies, are also service-connected based on direct evidence of a nexus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of coronary artery disease with hypertension was denied in May 1997, but the decision remained pending and unadjudicated due to a change of address. The effective date is now set at June 30, 1996.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain the Veteran's Army Reserve records and to provide addendum medical etiology opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, diabetes, and CAD were not incurred in service or related to any period of active duty. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.