Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Hypertension, and Depressive Disorder, NOS. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded to determine if it is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further medical guidance concerning the matters of direct service connection and aggravation on a secondary basis as to sleep apnea and hypertension, as well as further clarification on the matter of Agent Orange exposure and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits has been granted, and he is now receiving a 100 percent evaluation for his heart condition (CAD). His renal insufficiency with hypertension is rated at 60 percent. He also receives SMC based on housebound status due to his CAD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing that a claim form was received within one year of his intent to file, which would have made March 31, 2015, the date of claim. The earliest effective date assigned is April 4, 2016.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues listed, including service connection claims and increased rating claims. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, genital herpes, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression) as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, stomach cancer, and right foot disorder were denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety) was granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and gastroparesis is rated at 20 percent prior to June 9, 2016, and 60 percent thereafter. The Veteran's atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease (CAD) is also rated at 60 percent since May 10, 2016. Service connection has been established for right and left upper extremity neuropathy, lip disability, mitral regurgitation and tricuspid regurgitation, glaucoma/cataracts, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and gastroparesis as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a TBI was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that is a residual of a TBI in service. The claims for back and neck disabilities, and hypertension secondary to PTSD were not adjudicated due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete VA examinations and insufficient opinions regarding service connection claims. The Veteran's vertigo, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and psychiatric disabilities are among the issues being addressed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a psychiatric disorder and hypertension are granted. The Board finds that the onset of both conditions is related to his military service from September 1986 to October 1990.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are being remanded due to inadequate development of the medical evidence.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety and undifferentiated somatoform disorder, effective August 31, 2010. The decision also addresses an earlier effective date claim for the increased rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, hypertension, and irritable bowel syndrome. The evidence does not support the presence of these conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's initial application for service connection for coronary artery disease was received by VA on April 13, 2000. The RO granted service connection for coronary artery disease effective April 13, 2000. The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence showing a history of tinnitus dating back over 20 years.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss remains denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except GERD and bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, as his audiometric results do not meet VA criteria for such a disability. For GERD, the Veteran was provided with an opportunity for a VA examination but no opinion could be rendered without resorting to speculation.