Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Vietnam and to adjudicate his claim for service connection for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, PTSD), and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within a year of discharge, and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service, Agent Orange exposure, or his ischemic heart disease with congestive heart failure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes, hypertension, sarcoidosis, a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The Board found no evidence that these conditions began during or were caused by his active service.

The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional development and clarification of certain claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and ensuring that all issues are properly adjudicated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for narcolepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorders. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and ensuring all relevant medical providers are contacted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hypertension and sinus bradycardia are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after his active duty. The Board also noted that the current psychiatric disability may be secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding his increased rating for bilateral pes planus and denied his claim of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no evidence of chronic tinnitus in service, and the preponderance of the competent evidence is against a finding of a nexus to service.

The Veteran is granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder. His claim for a sleep disability and rating for depression are both denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records, as well as incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) need to be verified.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, as he is able to perform sedentary work despite his hearing loss and other conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and an opinion regarding whether his current condition had its onset during active duty.

The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss have not been found to be service-connected or warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, related to his PTSD and Agent Orange exposure, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's hepatitis is found to be related to his service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for hepatitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, including pulmonary hypertension, did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not related to any in-service disease or injury. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 30, 2013.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service and is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD was denied.