Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin disorders, hypertension, COPD, arthritis of the right ankle, and gout. The VA examiner opined that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for cardiovascular disorder, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's combined rating is 40 percent due to multiple lower extremity conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is caused by his service-connected general anxiety disorder and herbicide exposure, including Agent Orange exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and visual disability, including refractive errors and cataracts, are not related to his active service. The Veteran's hypertension was not diagnosed within one year of separation from service, and there is no evidence linking it to service. His current visual disabilities are considered developmental defects and not diseases or injuries for which service connection can be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during service, within one year of separation, or during a period of ACDUTRA and is not otherwise related to a disease, injury, or exposure of service origin.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, heart disability, and bilateral hearing loss did not arise in service or are otherwise etiologically related to his active duty service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's SNPA is not proximately caused or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately caused by her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals were denied for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus with hypertension and erectile dysfunction, coronary artery disease prior to May 12, 2011, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to May 30, 2014.

The Veteran's headaches have been found to meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating, with very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, CAD, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The evidence received since the April 2003 decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for hypertension is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in previous medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran's bilateral leg swelling was found not to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and a left foot disability other than hallux valgus. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with an initial rating of 50 percent. The Veteran's claim for right ankle disability was granted with an initial rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's current heart condition, including hypertension and hypertensive heart disease, is not related to his service or exposure to herbicides. The Board finds that the Veteran's heart condition is more likely due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney condition, neck disability, and pancreas condition are related to his service-connected disabilities. The heart condition is not directly connected to any service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing new VA examinations.

The Veteran's essential hypertension has been rated at 10 percent since the effective date of service connection in August 26, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and cardiomyopathy with left atrium enlargement and congestive heart failure are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.