Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and entitlement to SMC based on need for aid and attendance/housebound status. The Veteran was found not to have a disability that required regular aid and assistance or to be permanently housebound by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of alcohol abuse or hypertension, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension, finding no current disability related to service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining VA treatment records and developing the claim of entitlement to service connection for heart disease. The hypertension issue remains on appeal.

The Veteran's varicose veins of the left leg are currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7120.,Service connection for hypertension has been granted as secondary to service-connected varicose veins of the left leg.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected anxiety disorder or arteriosclerotic heart disease. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition. However, it granted an increased rating of 20% for diabetes mellitus with retinopathy and cataracts prior to October 16, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disorder, variously diagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis and chloracne, had its onset during his period of active military service. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for PTSD and service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, thoracic aortic aneurysm, skin cancer, and residuals of stroke, was denied. The effective date for the Veteran's ischemic heart disease (IHD) is set at August 3, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of hypertension or mandibular bone loss, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected due to lack of in-service onset or continuity, and the Board finds that it is less likely than not related to his service-connected diabetes or PTSD. The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for hypertension and left shoulder deltoid atrophy with degenerative arthritis and axillary nerve palsy was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, as his diastolic pressure has never been predominantly 110 or more. For the left shoulder condition, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for ischemic heart disease was denied. The Board also found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for hypertension as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents during service and his service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and Agent Orange exposure, as well as a clarification on whether diabetes mellitus aggravates his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, a left knee disability, a lower back disability, a sleep disorder, hypertension, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, acid reflux disease, a left ankle disability, a right ankle disability, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied as the evidence did not show he was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 8, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a scheduling issue for a videoconference hearing at the RO. The primary issue remains unresolved regarding service connection for hypertension secondary to atrioventricular block status post pacemaker implant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it neither began during nor was otherwise caused by his military service and that it was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine disorder with upper extremity radiculopathy and hypertension have been granted, effective from June 11, 2009, for hypertension, and May 16, 2016, for the cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's heart disability, hypertension, and diabetes were not shown to be related to service or due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.