Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and hypertension, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's military service. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is rated at 20 percent from February 21, 2007 to January 11, 2017, and at 40 percent thereafter. His peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerves was rated at 20 percent prior to April 10, 2010, and at 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hypertension was not related to service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment prior to February 13, 2017.

The Veteran's hypertension has not been manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more and requiring continuous medication.,The Veteran's bilateral allergic conjunctivitis is inactive and without residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension are not related to service, and thus denied claims for service connection. The Veteran's PTSD is also rated at its maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hypertension.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, or PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining complete VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities. The Veteran must also be scheduled for a new examination before service connection can be decided on the merits for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including right knee disability and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, were granted. The specific ratings assigned are provided in the decision summary.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially to his death from heart conditions, including congestive heart failure and valvular heart disease. The appellant seeks presumptive service connection for her husband's death due to Agent Orange exposure, but the evidence does not support this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a sleep disorder including sleep apnea, and nosebleeds have been denied. The Veteran has not provided evidence of current disabilities or linked them to service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment and personnel records from his Enlisted Reserve Corps service.

The Veteran's hypertension has not manifested by a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or a systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more. Therefore, the criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected seasonal allergic rhinitis and hypertension have not been found to warrant an initial compensable evaluation at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as seeking medical nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's cardiovascular disorder, skin disorder, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability contributed to his death, which was caused by cardiac arrhythmia with contributory conditions including coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent and his PTSD results in a TDIU effective November 22, 2010.

The Veteran is granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The other conditions are not considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not otherwise related to his service-connected right knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.