Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for hypertension is denied. The Board found the condition did not manifest during service or be related to his sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for left quadriceps muscle injury and reopened the claim for hypertension. The decision on left quadriceps muscle injury is due to a pre-existing condition that was not aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle spasms of the low back, blurred vision due to cataracts (now claimed as dry eyes), sleep apnea, hypertension, and benign neoplasms of the heart were all denied. The denial was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was granted after it was determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected bronchial asthma and hepatitis C, TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, and SMC based on housebound status from August 1, 2009. Additional development is required in each case.

The Board denied service connection for high blood pressure as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or related to service, including within one year of separation.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50% from February 2, 2015, due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent and his scar on the left side of the mouth is rated at 10 percent effective before October 18, 2017. The rating for the scar was increased to 10 percent after October 18, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal concerning his cervical spine condition is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the service connection claims.

The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not contribute to his death or cause his cardiac arrest, but this opinion is inadequate. The case is being remanded for a more complete VA opinion considering new evidence.

The Veteran's residuals of a cerebral vascular accident, including as secondary to his service-connected hypertension, are granted.

The Veteran's hypertension and migraine headaches have been rated, but the current ratings are not sufficient. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to pesticides while stationed at Vieques, Puerto Rico. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot disorders, nasal conditions, and hypertension due to additional development of records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as major depressive disorder with psychotic and anxious distress features, is granted. Service connection for low white blood cell count is denied. The Board also remanded several issues including service connection for a prostate disorder, sinus disorder, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and PTSD as there are outstanding treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not shown to be of such a nature or severity to have prevented him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the weight of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran was unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service, including any in-service exposure to herbicides or other potential causative factors.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension and a respiratory disability (asthma) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The issues of entitlement to service connection are related to chemical exposure during active service.