Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II as there was no evidence of these conditions within one year of the Veteran's separation from active duty.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and an increased rating for hypertensive heart disease, but granted a compensable rating (10%) for hypertension. The appeal was remanded for further action on other issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to diabetes and herbicide exposure, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and right leg amputation as secondary to cellulitis due to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran is also denied a compensable rating for cellulitis.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of a separate 10 percent rating for cranial nerve VII due to Frey Syndrome should not be earlier than March 2, 2015. The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.,Further examination is required to determine if the Veteran has a current psychiatric disorder, TBI, headache disorder, vision disorder, or hypertension that is related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension may be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, but needs further clarification from a medical expert.

The Board has requested a new medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service. The updated NAS report now concludes there is sufficient evidence of an association, but further clarification is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not related to active service or any incident of service, including as due to presumed in-service exposure to an herbicide agent or secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and additional medical evidence is needed. The issues of left shoulder, low back, and left knee disabilities are related to National Guard duty time which needs to be verified. The psychiatric disorder claim requires additional treatment records and a VA examination. Sleep apnea and hypertension are inextricably intertwined with the psychiatric disorder claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a cervical spine disability, nerve disorder affecting the right upper extremity (RUE), and hypertension have been denied. The VA has assigned a 20% rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, knee disorder, psychiatric condition, sinusitis, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension, is remanded due to the need for further evaluation. The appeal for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the service connection for a heart condition previously claimed as abnormal EKG and hypertension before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claims for stress, asbestos exposure, and psoriasis have been denied. The Veteran has hypertension, gout, obstructive sleep apnea, and headaches that need to be evaluated further.,The Veteran is not entitled to increased evaluations for his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities due to the lack of non-weight-bearing testing in the VA examination report.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition has been granted. The Board found that new evidence related to the unestablished fact necessary to substantiate this claim, which is the onset and etiology of the claimed condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as noncompensable, but a compensable rating is denied.,The Veteran's CAD from April 25, 2008 to February 16, 2010 was granted at the 10 percent level. From February 16, 2010 to January 20, 2016, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied. After January 20, 2016, a rating in excess of 60 percent is denied.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension due to new evidence showing a potential link between the condition and exposure to Agent Orange during service. However, the case is remanded as further medical examination is needed to determine if hypertension is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus or PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hypertension and chronic kidney disease for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's hypertension is caused by his PTSD.