Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities aggravated his claimed hypertension, back disorder, and bilateral hip disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not related to his service-connected PTSD. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeal for both issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension, and thus the claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and a low back disability. The disorders were not noted on entrance or separation examinations, did not manifest within one year of service separation, and are not related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, hypertension, gynecomastia, bilateral degenerative arthritis of the knees, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease (claimed as a bilateral leg condition), degenerative osteoarthritis at L3-4 (claimed as low back pain), left carotid occlusion, and bilateral hand injury have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any complaints or treatment for the claimed conditions. His post-service medical records indicate diagnoses of GERD in 2000, hypertension in 2005, and bilateral degenerative arthritis of the knees beginning in 2004. The Board found no causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an effective date prior to June 9, 2009, for the service-connected disabilities listed on the title page. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and addressing whether it is related to his service-connected ischemic heart disease with chronic congestive heart failure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected disabilities or any in-service exposure. The case will be returned to the AOJ for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's symptoms of chronic nephritis, hypertension, anemia, and edema have been present since at least March 2013. Therefore, an effective date of April 2, 2013 is granted for the assignment of a 100 percent rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current cardiovascular disability, to include hypertension, that manifested in service or within one year of separation from service.,There is no evidence showing a diagnosis of hypertension until October 2005, and there are no records documenting elevated blood pressure readings while in service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection, increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU prior to March 11, 2013.

The Veteran's breathing disorder, including COPD, pulmonary hypertension, and sleep apnea, was not shown to be related to service or exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the most likely cause of his respiratory conditions is tobacco use.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, as he requires continuous medication for control of his blood pressure.,The Veteran does not have a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis due to lack of polyps or significant nasal obstruction.,For the period prior to June 23, 2016, the Veteran's dermatitis is rated at 10 percent. Since then, it has been rated as 10 percent.