Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and readjudication of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not originate in service or until more than a year following service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. The claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has determined that hypertension is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran seeks TDIU and DEA prior to May 6, 2003. The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU but may warrant extraschedular consideration due to unemployability. The claim is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle disability, finding that it is related to his service-connected heart condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran's migraine headaches and dyshidrotic eczema are related to service, thus granting service connection for these conditions. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral foot problems, hypertension, and a gastrointestinal condition are remanded.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, allergic rhinitis, and bilateral hearing loss have been rated based on their service-connected nature. The initial compensable ratings for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease was aggravated by his active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection. However, there is no evidence showing that his hypertension was caused by or related to his active service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in service, and to obtain all outstanding VA treatment records. The claims for service connection will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for ischemic heart disease due to exposure to herbicide agents, as this condition falls under a presumptive basis based on his in-country Vietnam service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and right shoulder disability. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety and depression) is remanded as it involves a new issue not previously addressed.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, IBS, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine were all granted with effective dates of May 29, 2014. The claim for a higher rating for tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 6260. The claims for service connection for left shoulder disability and cervical spine disability were not addressed due to the remand instructions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral leg disabilities were dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with mild depression. The claim for hypertension was reopened, but not granted. The claim for dermatitis/seborrheic dermatitis remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it began during his active duty service and has been continuously present since then.,New evidence received since the previous denial of service connection for a left knee disability indicates that the condition may be related to service. The claim will be reopened, but further evaluation is needed to determine if service connection can be established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, or left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for bronchial asthma prior to February 7, 2017 or from February 7, 2017 onwards. Service connection was also denied for sleep apnea, hypertension, and chronic sinusitis.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney cysts and hypertension were not related to service or herbicide exposure, and denied claims for service connection on a direct basis.