Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has found that additional development is necessary for the claim on appeal, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension has been reopened, and the Board finds new and material evidence. However, the secondary service connection claim for aortic aneurysm is inextricably intertwined with the hypertension claim and will be deferred until the hypertension claim is resolved.

The Veteran's hypertension requires continuous medication to control it and keep his diastolic pressure below 100 and his systolic pressure below 160. The Board granted a 10% rating for hypertension.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder manifested during active duty service and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder with anxious distress features and undifferentiated/overlapping alcohol use disorder.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including contusion of the right hand, hypertension, headaches, bilateral foot disorder, left hand disorder, sleep apnea, herpes, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Board found that service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus is not warranted as the evidence does not establish a nexus to service.

The Board found no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board is remanding three issues: service connection for COPD, GERD, and reopening the hypertension claim. The Veteran's hearing request was not properly notified at his current address.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for high cholesterol associated with contaminated water at Camp Lejeune before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to December 3, 2010 for his award of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU). The decision found that the claim was not filed within one year before the effective date and did not meet the schedular numeric criteria for an award of TDIU until December 3, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left arm injury, high cholesterol, and hypertension. The Board found no current diagnosis related to the left arm injury, and that there was no evidence of disability manifested by or associated with hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). For hypertension, the Board noted in-service exposure to Agent Orange but concluded that service connection could not be granted based on herbicide exposure due to lack of a causal relationship. The Veteran's lay statements were also considered, but found less probative than medical evidence.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to diabetes and coronary artery disease. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran’s exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and his hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension with chronic kidney disease, nephrolithiasis, maxillary sinusitis, anxiety disorder, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, are of such severity that they preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, heart disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, right leg disorder, and right foot disorder were denied. The claim for service connection of the gastrointestinal disorder was reopened due to new evidence received since the last denial in 1981. The remaining issues remain denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for a respiratory disorder and hypertension due to his request to withdraw from appellate status. The claim of service connection for right and left knee disabilities was denied as there is no evidence that the current degenerative joint disease in both knees is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred during or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development of his case.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and diabetic nephropathy, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ. The Veteran's claims for other conditions are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his request to withdraw the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The remaining claim, regarding hypertension as secondary to PTSD, is pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, hypertension, and CAD are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or service connection due to the lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology.