Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for calcification of the joints below arm level, hypertension, cardiovascular disability, and bladder disability due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred during his active duty service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. However, these claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and denied it. Service connection is granted for cardiomyopathy, but denied for hypertension and heart murmur.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence being obtained by VA, and the Veteran did not waive initial consideration of this evidence by the AOJ.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not related to the Veteran's active duty service or his service-connected PTSD. The evidence did not show a link between the Veteran’s hypertension and exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete testing and outstanding records, particularly from a recent hospitalization. The Veteran's heart condition requires further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dental implants is denied as the condition does not meet the criteria for compensation purposes.,A 10 percent initial rating for hypertension has been granted, effective from September 1, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction on a presumptive basis due to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and granted service connection based on evidence showing that it is at least as likely as not incurred during his military service. The issue of a compensable rating for status post bilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy with scars was withdrawn by the Veteran, thus no further action is required in this regard.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, tinnitus, a cervical spine disorder, a left shoulder disorder, and a bilateral hip disorder. The evidence did not establish direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a more adequate medical opinion regarding the effect of his back and knee braces on his clothing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vitiligo, claimed as an autoimmune disorder, is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service herbicide exposure and current diagnosis of vitiligo. High blood pressure, skin disability (including seborrheic keratosis), and traumatic brain injury are remanded due to lack of medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for a back condition, hypertension, onychomycosis, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's treatment records indicate he has complained of these conditions since 2007.

The Veteran's cause of death was Alzheimer’s dementia, which is not service-connected. The Board denied DIC benefits as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for total disability compensation due to a service-connected condition for at least 10 continuous years immediately preceding his death.

The Board has denied service connection for arrhythmia, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for bilateral hearing loss. The claim of service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence showing that the condition was incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, contact dermatitis, TBI residuals, gastrointestinal disorder, PTSD, shoulder disorders, hemorrhoids, cervical spine disability, migraine headaches, vision loss, testosterone imbalance, wrist and hand disorders, hip disorders, and insomnia are all remanded. Additionally, his claim for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, a residual head injury scar, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss is also remanded. His TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including hypertension, contact dermatitis, TBI, and gastrointestinal disorders. The Veteran also had his TDIU claim remanded.