Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, hypertension, and vision loss as there is no evidence of a disease or injury that would qualify for compensation benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he was not hospitalized for a service-connected disability, and his non-ischemic cardiomyopathy is not service-connected.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension. The issues have been REMANDED.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus, type II was granted. The claim to reopen his hypertension service connection was also granted based on new evidence showing a current disability and its relationship to the service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU for the conditions listed, citing that he had been granted a 100 percent disability rating for his heart condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of depression or any other mental disorder, and therefore service connection for depression as secondary to his service-connected lumbar disc bulge is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral leg disability (excluding peripheral neuropathy), arthritis, and bilateral eye disability. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder is service-connected, and his sleep apnea is secondary to this condition. The Board finds no evidence of asbestos exposure or other conditions related to service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's hypertensive cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and anxiety reaction with dizziness and dysthymia.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetic nephropathy with hypertension demonstrated improvement to the extent that a 60 percent rating effective October 1, 2015 was properly assigned.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and vision loss are not related to his active duty service.,Service connection for both conditions is denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is not caused by, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine and/or psychiatric disabilities. For the rating period prior to February 27, 2013, the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the cervical spine disability have not been met.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issues related to digestive disability, hypertension, skin disability, chest pain disability, and respiratory disability in an August 2016 written statement. The case is dismissed.

The Board has found that service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder is warranted, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The issues of hypertension and shortness of breath are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for nightmare disorder, and the effective date for a 20 percent rating for residuals of excisional biopsy, granulomatous, buccal sulcus, right side of mouth is not warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, is not due to, or the result of, or aggravated by service-connected PTSD, and is not related to exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for service connection for hypertension has been denied.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his hypertension, as well as whether diabetes mellitus may have aggravated his hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for exertional compartment syndrome of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that it is related to active duty service. The claim for hypertension was withdrawn by the appellant prior to a decision.

The Veteran's right shoulder injury, hypertension, and bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis are all found to be related to service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.