Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, sleep apnea, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and skin disability. The Veteran's testimony indicates that his current symptoms may be related to his active duty service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for chloracne and hypertension. The previously denied claims are therefore not reopened.

The Board dismissed the appeals as they are related to a deceased Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a temporary total rating for convalescence for right ankle surgery prior to November 29, 2011 and an extension of such benefits after May 31, 2012. The claim for a compensable initial rating for hypertension was also denied.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with vulvar lesions, ulcerations, and cysts, neurodermatitis, folliculitis, impetigo, dermatitis, psoriasis, shingles, and hypertension. The evidence indicates these conditions have persisted since service.,Service records show the Veteran reported vaginal symptoms (including warts) and skin issues in service. Her current diagnoses are consistent with her reported symptoms.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as 60 percent disabling under the applicable rating criteria, and a higher schedular rating is not warranted.,Service connection for aldosteronism is denied. The most competent evidence supports the finding that aldosteronism causes or aggravates hypertension, but there is no evidence to support the claim of service connection for aldosteronism as proximately caused by hypertension.,Obstructive sleep apnea is not found to be directly related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The examiner opines that weight gain due to medications used to treat his service-connected conditions may have contributed to the development of obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected VA pension benefits was denied as he failed to provide requested information necessary to determine his eligibility, and the available evidence does not document permanent and total disability due to nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's recurrent gastrointestinal disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, hypertension, and prostate disorder were initially manifested during active service. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate rationale in the examiner's opinion regarding the relationship between hypertension and service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for left acromioclavicular separation and service connection for hypertension. The TDIU claim prior to May 7, 2010 was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for keloid formation from mole removal of the left arm, finding it was incurred during active service.,Service connection is denied for bilateral eye condition to include hyperopia, presbyopia, and pinguequla as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on housebound status is denied as he does not meet the regulatory requirements for housebound benefits and does not substantially confine him to his dwelling or immediate premises.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for obesity due to conflicting opinions and the need for further development. The Veteran's obesity is being reviewed with respect to her service-connected conditions, including major depression, status post parotidectomy/Frey's syndrome, hypothyroidism/Graves' disease, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to service or to in-service herbicide agent exposure, nor is it secondary to his service-connected diabetes. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not meet the criteria for direct service connection and rejecting presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure. The Board also found no secondary service connection due to diabetes mellitus.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or have duties near the perimeter of a Thailand air base, and thus cannot establish exposure to herbicide agents. As such, service connection for DM, HTN, PN, and an eye disorder cannot be granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss have been rated as noncompensable throughout the rating period on appeal. The medical evidence does not support a compensable disability rating for either condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and COPD, finding that the evidence does not support a link to his military service or any other condition.