Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's neurologic disability of the lower extremities is not supported by evidence showing onset during service or a nexus to his service-connected spondylolysis.,There is no medical evidence demonstrating that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction had its clinical onset during service, and it is not proximately related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board also found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and new evidence needs to be obtained. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's diabetes is presumed to have been caused by his herbicide agent exposure in service. The claim for hypertension secondary to diabetes is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Army Reserve records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disability, hypertension, and low back/knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and readjudication of his claims, including obtaining outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development as the most recent medical evidence of record was received nearly three years ago and he has provided a lay statement asserting his service-connected disabilities are more severely disabling than reflected in the currently assigned ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, nor did he have hypertension due to service. The evidence showed no in-service diagnosis or treatment for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his claims, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's hypertension has not been shown to result in blood pressure readings that were predominantly higher than 160 systolic or 100 diastolic, and the Board finds the preponderance of the evidence weighs against a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension has not manifested as diastolic pressure predominantly of 110 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly of 200 or more during the appeal period. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for tinnitus, a sleep disability, high blood pressure, a gastrointestinal disability (ulcerative colitis), or a headache disability. The acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety disorder, and panic disorder) is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The remaining issues remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's cardiovascular disease, including hypertension and coronary artery disease, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to conflicting findings in the January 2015 VA examination. A new examination is needed to clarify when the Veteran was first diagnosed with hypertension and whether it clearly and unmistakably existed prior to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for an adequate opinion regarding his coronary artery disease and hypertension, as well as missing VA records.