Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and higher ratings for hypertension and lumbar disability have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of hypertension has been granted. The case is remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's hypertension, Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), and PTSD are not service-connected. The Board denied the extraschedular rating for IHD and the TDIU claim due to the Veteran's ability to work part-time as a chiropractor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction) do not render him unemployable as he has been continuously employed for over two decades.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his hypertension and his period of active service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension was dismissed because the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and a higher disability rating for right maxillary sinusitis associated with nose fracture. The Veteran's hypertension is not considered secondary to his service-connected disabilities, and the right maxillary sinusitis does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and granted it as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's current hypertension is found to be caused or chronically worsened by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), headaches, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The Board found that new evidence did not reopen the claim for a skin disorder, and that there was no nexus between any of these conditions and service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has not required regulation of activities due to its severity.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's heart conditions, including an enlarged heart and ischemic heart disease, are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The Veteran's hypertension is also presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure. However, the Veteran's headaches are not linked to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is service-connected, as evidenced by high blood pressure readings during active duty and a VA examination confirming current diagnosis. The knee osteoarthritis claim requires further review due to the need for an additional VA examination considering the average amount of days spent on active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA each year in the reserves.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of service dates and obtaining treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination to determine if the appellant requires aid and attendance due to her health conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including hearing loss, DJD of the right knee, limitation of extension of the right knee, left knee disorder, bone disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left thigh disorder, right thigh disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, neck muscle spasms, visual defect, hypertension, GERD, brain tumor, peripheral neuropathy and polyneuropathy, seizure disorder, and other conditions. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional evidence or clarification.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for coronary artery disease, infected sternum, and hypertension. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is linked to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hypertension, lung cancer, and COPD as they need further examination by a VA clinician to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's residuals of a right index finger injury are granted a 10 percent disability rating. The Veteran's hypertension associated with HIV related illness is granted a non-compensable rating, and the Veteran's bilateral spermatocele (testes) is also granted a non-compensable rating. However, the Veteran's djd of the lumbar spine remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the appellant's character of discharge and his service connection claims. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather a dispute over the character of discharge.