Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder is not reopened due to lack of material evidence. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for hypertension is denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is set at March 30, 2017.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection claims for various conditions was received on June 22, 2014. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at the date of receipt of the claim, which is June 17, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted. The VA examiner provided a negative nexus opinion regarding any relationship between the Veteran’s hypertension and his atrioventricular block or pacemaker.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, upper and lower respiratory disability, bilateral knee degenerative changes, left elbow epicondylitis; olecranon bursitis, muscle injuries, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), GERD, and erectile dysfunction. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions or that they were related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for cold injuries and depression. The claims of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral flat feet, generalized primary osteoarthritis, knee replacement resulting from bone cancer, hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes, and migraine headaches are remanded due to missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) was granted at a 60% level, but not greater. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation of cervical spine and low back disabilities, COPD, sleep apnea, and hypertension.,An earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension is also being remanded due to new evidence.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's hypertension began during active service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder. The claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and PTSD as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding no evidence of in-service occurrence or nexus. The claim for PTSD was dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for a related condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service and the relationship between in-service medical conditions and his later death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neurological impairment and scars/tightness. The claim for hypertension is not currently before the Board.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral cataracts, arthritis, blepharitis, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, hypertension, prostate disorder, and housebound SMC based on new evidence or to clarify service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension has been reopened. The effective date of the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied.,The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and depression are all granted service connection.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis of the right hand, arthritis of the left hand, fibromyalgia, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and a sleep-related disability (including obstructive sleep apnea) are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, high blood pressure, headaches, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The appeal is also denied as to the requests for earlier effective dates for service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension rating is currently at 10 percent for the period after September 20, 2013. The Board has remanded this issue due to outstanding private treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board has dismissed the appeals pertaining to sinusitis and residuals of electrical shock. The remaining issues, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and depression), sleep apnea, and hypertension, are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service exposure to herbicides or any other service-connected condition and his current hypertension. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as it did not manifest during service and is less likely related to his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is also denied, with the examiner finding no evidence of a direct or secondary relationship to his service-connected PTSD.