Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and identifying the approximate date, location and provider of physical therapy in 2007. An orthopedic examination will also be conducted to determine the current severity of his left knee.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arteriosclerosis and hypertension, including as secondary to radiation and herbicide exposure, is denied. There is no current diagnosis of arteriosclerosis or hypertension within the presumptive period.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, actinic keratosis, hypertension, colon polyps, and cataracts due to exposure to radio transmission radiation during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is likely caused by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension. The issue is being remanded due to concerns about the sufficiency of medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his military service, particularly exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for depression and insomnia, headaches, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and kidney disorder have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not incurred in or aggravated by service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as moot due to the absence of any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's representative has raised a new theory of entitlement regarding the relationship between PTSD, sleep impairment, obesity, hypertension, and vascular disease. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions on these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of dengue fever, finding that there is no evidence linking his current disabilities to his in-service diagnosis of 'jungle virus,' which was presumed to be dengue fever.

The Veteran's applications to reopen his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, a back disorder, and peripheral neuropathy (left and right upper extremity) have been dismissed as he has withdrawn these appeals.

The Veteran is entitled to specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and erectile dysfunction. The claim for special home adaptations is dismissed as a matter of law.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of hypertension or bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection was denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic lumbar spine disability or respiratory problems due to asbestos exposure, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis of the hip, or blood blockage on the left side of the neck that were incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is for increased ratings for service-connected hypertension and sarcoidosis. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.,The Veteran's hypertension was rated at 20 percent, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on objective blood pressure readings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service sexual assault. The claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, hepatitis C, a right knee disorder, and erectile dysfunction are also granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination as it has been over five years since his last examination.

The Veteran's hypertension has not manifested with diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a compensable rating for hypertension at any time during the appeal period.