Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, headache disability, hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and hypertension. However, further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous opinion regarding whether hypertension is related to ionizing radiation exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and onychomycosis, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied. Service connection for swollen legs associated with diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. Service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy of the radial nerve associated with diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened.

The Veteran's service connection for blindness in both eyes, high blood pressure, and left kidney disability have been reopened. The rating for diabetes mellitus type II has been reduced from 60% to 20%, effective June 23, 2013. The Veteran's abdominal muscle disability and gunshot wound residuals of the left back have been granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 30 percent rating for service-connected diabetic nephropathy from February 3, 2004 is granted. The appeals for increased ratings for coronary artery disease with hypertension and more than a 10 percent rating for service-connected diabetic retinopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder.,The Veteran’s lumbar strain disability remains at a 20% rating, with no changes in the current rating period.,The RO improperly reduced the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome and postoperative lateral meniscectomy ratings. The original ratings of 30% and 10%, respectively, are restored.,The Veteran’s left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated at 20% for the period prior to September 25, 2015, and at 70% thereafter due to major depressive disorder (previously characterized as adjustment disorder with mixed mood).,TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has denied a higher rating.,Service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) to include as secondary to service-connected hypertension has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM), both secondary to herbicide exposure, but the claims of service connection for hypertension, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities, nephrolithiasis, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and chronic kidney disease due to insufficient evidence, including failure of the Veteran to report to scheduled VA examinations. The AOJ is required to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran’s conditions are related to his service in Vietnam (Agent Orange exposure), diabetes, or heart disability.

The Veteran's hypertension has not been evaluated by a VA examiner in over three years, and he alleges that it has worsened. The Board finds this to be sufficient grounds for remanding the case for an updated evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance from September 13, 2012, but no earlier. Effective from that date, he is entitled to SMC benefits based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of contemporaneous records. The appellant's back disorder, restless leg syndrome, sleep disorder, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all being reviewed with consideration given to his in-service injury and post-service risk factors.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his scar left leg, unstable, residuals of puncture wound is denied.,The previously denied claim for service connection for arthritis, left elbow, now claimed as an elbow condition has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, it remains denied.,The previously denied claim for service connection for thyroid disorder, now claimed as thyroid cancer, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. It remains denied.,The previously denied claim for service connection for back disability, to include as secondary to service-connected disability, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. It remains denied.,The previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to service-connected disability, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. It remains denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes is denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such.,Service connection for hypertension was denied due to lack of evidence showing it began during or within one year after service.,Service connection for GERD was denied because there is no evidence linking it to service, and the preponderance of the evidence indicates it did not arise until years after service.,Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence supporting such a condition.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, heart condition (hypertension), and hay fever is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, hypertension, heart disability, scars associated with a heart disability, headache disability, and psychiatric disability. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected PTSD, as well as claims for various other disabilities. The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to the need for updated medical examinations and opinions regarding the severity of PTSD and the etiology of asthma.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II due to the need for new examinations.