Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for apraxia of the eyelid opening with blepharospasm, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities associated with type II diabetes (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome), tinnitus, and aortic aneurysm. The evidence does not support these claims.,The Board found that there is no direct or secondary service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and right knee disability. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for heart disability, respiratory disease (COPD), cervical spine and thoracic spine disability, right wrist disability, and bilateral ankle disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including gout, a respiratory disorder, hypertension, kidney disorder, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder), and obesity. The remand requires additional development to address potential radiation exposure during service.

The Board denied reopening the service connection for hypertension, as new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the service connection issue.

Service connection for a back disability is granted.,Service connection for athlete’s foot is granted.,Service connection for a left eye scar is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.,Service connection for short-term memory loss is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a right foot second metatarsal fracture, hypertension, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and gum disease. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made, so the case is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, a bilateral eye condition, and hypertension, all as not being related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, a heart condition, hypertension, colon cancer, and scar tissue surgery residuals. The VA is instructed to obtain information from SSA regarding any disability benefits the Veteran may have received.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disease is rated at 100 percent effective February 12, 2017 and for three months thereafter. SMC housebound benefits are granted from February 12, 2017 to May 31, 2017.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of right knee disorder, back disorder, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and skin disorder are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset in service or causation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened, and a 30 percent rating is granted for bronchial asthma prior to April 16, 2009. The issues of PTSD, sleep apnea, effective date earlier than February 26, 2015, for the grant of Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA), and total rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to February 26, 2015 are remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address the Veteran's new theory of entitlement regarding exposure to arsenic, benzene, DDT, and an unknown substance used to reduce Hantavirus in service. The AOJ must develop this claim and provide a medical opinion on the etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are related to his initial active duty training (ACDUTRA) military service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a dental disability has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability and depressive disorder. The effective date for the award of service connection for depressive disorder is set at December 9, 1998.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension were granted service connection. The left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, sleep disability, cephalgia tension headaches (claimed as migraines), and acquired psychiatric disabilities were not granted service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, lung disability, back pain, hypertension, GERD, prostate cancer, and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service connected. The case is being remanded to obtain verification of herbicide exposure in Korea and to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and major depressive disorder. The Veteran was not provided with an examination or opinion regarding her hypertension, as there are outstanding records of her periods of active duty, inactive duty training (INACTDUTRA), and active duty for training (ACTDUTRA). Additionally, a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of her major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, as well as the issues of TDIU prior to November 17, 2015, and SMC from that date are being remanded due to a lack of recent medical examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding records and schedule the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations.