Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD, Heart Disorder, and Hypertension due to in-service herbicide exposure. Additional evidence is needed, including VA medical examinations and opinions on the relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for further medical examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again as they may be related to his PTSD.

Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was manifested by no worse than Level III loss for the right ear, and no worse than Level IV loss for the left ear on Table VII.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension is denied. Throughout the period of appeal, the Veteran required medication for control of hypertension but diastolic readings during the initial rating period have not been predominantly 110 or more and systolic pressure readings during the initial rating period have not been predominantly 200 or more.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 0 percent for erectile dysfunction is denied. The Veteran's service-connected erectile dysfunction has not manifested as any penile deformity.

The claim of service connection for hypertension is reopened and granted.,The claims of service connection for residuals of a left ankle sprain, carpal tunnel syndrome in the right wrist (to include as a result of burn scar), low back disability, right ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction associated with prostate cancer, residuals of third degree burns on the right hand, and limitation of motion of the right wrist are not reopened.,The claim of service connection for prostate cancer is granted effective from May 29, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The issues include hearing loss, sinusitis, rhinitis, COPD, headaches, sleep apnea, arthritis conditions, eye disabilities, circulatory problems, neuropathy, radiculopathy, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, hip disabilities, psychiatric disorders, lumbar spine disability, knee disabilities, and other unspecified conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence that the condition was caused by in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied as he does not meet the schedular requirements and has not provided information about his employment status.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied as not related to service.,Service connection for a heart disorder (manifested as arrhythmia) and hypertension was granted, with the latter being aggravated by diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's bruxism is granted as secondary to PTSD. The remaining issues are remanded for further evidentiary development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease (IHD), hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertensive heart disease and hypertension, which are presumed related to herbicide exposure. The VA will obtain additional records and provide a medical opinion on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension and lung disorder were not found to be service-connected, with the exception of a lung disorder that may be related to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for back, cervical spine, bilateral knee, gout and hypertension have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals during a June 2016 Board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, scarring (penis), migraine headaches, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are denied as the evidence does not establish a current disability or a relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for scarring is denied because there is no current diagnosis of a scar. The Veteran had a scar during service but it has resolved, leaving only hypertrophic skin.,The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded as the evidence does not establish a relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and high blood pressure. The claim for arthritis is not before the Board as it was not included in the May 2015 statement of the case.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection.,Service connection for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, cystic skin lesions, a respiratory disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as his conditions were not related to his military service.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's claims for asbestos related pleural disease, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also established for a low back disorder, but not hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hyperlipidemia is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.,Service connection for dermatitis remains denied, with an initial rating in excess of 10 percent not warranted.

The Veteran's tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension are all granted as service-connected. Tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure. Obstructive sleep apnea was found to be related to obesity rather than PTSD or a grenade blast. Hypertension is considered direct service connection.