Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral glaucoma, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as PTSD, hypertension, and LLE radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a heart disorder (secondary to panic disorder with agoraphobia or hypertension), and a psychiatric disorder (other than panic disorder with agoraphobia) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of insomnia, and the Board finds that his sleep impairment is already encompassed in his service-connected depressive disorder.,There is no evidence of hypertension during service or within one year of discharge. The Veteran's hypertension was diagnosed several years after service separation and is not related to diabetes mellitus or service.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, and the record contains no indication that his post-service condition is causally related to his active service or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset in service or within one year of service and was not caused by or related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and thus denied these claims. The left leg disability was found to warrant a rating of 10 percent, but no higher, while the left shoulder disability warranted a rating of 20 percent.

The Board finds that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not due to, the result of, or aggravated by service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder or lung disorder.

The Board is requesting additional development and an addendum opinion to address the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his postphlebitic syndrome caused or aggravated hypertension, which contributed to his cardio-pulmonary failure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, PTSD and prostate cancer are all granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.

The Board has determined that service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is warranted due to his service-connected hypertension, which was a contributory cause of his sudden cardiac arrest.

The Veteran's hypertension and major depressive disorder are found to be related to his service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, heart condition, and fatty liver condition. The issues are remanded pending adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne was denied. The claims for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran currently has hypertension for VA compensation purposes and it is at least as likely as not incurred during his active service.

The Veteran's hypertension and right hip bursitis have been evaluated, but the claims for increased ratings are denied as there is no evidence of diastolic pressures predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressures predominantly 200 or more for hypertension. For the right hip, the flexion limitation prior to November 2, 2015 does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating and the extension limitation from that date meets the criteria for a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 23, 2008 for service connection of various conditions were denied as the disabilities preexisted his final period of active duty service and are not shown to have been aggravated during that time.,All awards of service connection and SMC based on these conditions were assigned an effective date of August 23, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents or secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and neurological conditions are not related to service, including presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, PTSD, vertigo, dyskinesia, paresthesia, a bilateral leg disorder, and spinocerebellar dysfunction are denied as the evidence does not establish a nexus to military service or service-connected diabetes.