Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a cardiovascular disorder, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities and/or herbicide exposure is remanded. Additionally, the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder, including as secondary to herbicide exposure is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, arterial fibrillation, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for arthritis of the lumbar spine was withdrawn.,Effective March 2, 2016, VA granted service connection for cardiac arrhythmia and hypertension. The Veteran is not entitled to an effective date prior to this date.,VA also granted service connection for cardiac arrhythmia and hypertension on March 2, 2016. However, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.,The Veteran's initial rating of 30 percent for cardiac arrhythmia is maintained as his workload was greater than 3 METs but not greater than 5 METs resulting in fatigue.,VA denied a higher initial rating for hypertension, as the Veteran's blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability in December 1958. The Veteran's claims have been reopened, but the service connection is not granted for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraine headaches, tinnitus, chest pain, hypertension, and supraventricular arrhythmia, have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU. Regarding the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches on an extraschedular basis, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not present such an exceptional or unusual disability picture that the available schedular evaluations are inadequate.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and polyneuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, including as due to herbicide exposure and secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, is being remanded for additional development of VA treatment records prior to January 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, heart disability, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are not related to his active service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of his hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and prostate cancer.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for secondary service connection based on diabetes mellitus was also denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's currently-diagnosed erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected hypertension and medications used to treat the same.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and review of his service-connected disabilities to determine if he requires aid and attendance due solely to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant meets the requirements for basic eligibility to apply for VA benefits, including those related to hypertension, a heart condition, and residuals of a stroke. The appellant's National Guard service includes multiple periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA), which is considered qualifying military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during her active duty service or within one year of her separation from service, and there is no evidence showing it was related to her service. Therefore, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypertension is not related to his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type I with hypertension and complete erectile dysfunction has resulted in hypoglycemic reactions requiring emergency medical services transport to hospital emergency rooms at least once a year as of March 20, 2014. This meets the criteria for a 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication due to a request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.