Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding private treatment records and additional development of asbestos exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have aggravated his hypertension, but the exact degree and nature of this aggravation needs further clarification through a new examination.

The Veteran's right eye disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. However, the Veteran's hypertension was denied due to lack of a diagnosis within one year of service and no evidence linking it to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's chronic allergic rhinitis is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability and hypertension are denied. The hypertension case is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated higher than non-compensable as his diastolic pressure has been below 100 and systolic pressure has been below 160 during the period on appeal. He does not have a history of predominantly 100 or more diastolic readings, which would qualify for a 10% rating under DC 7101.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and headaches on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected mental health disorder. The effective dates for these conditions are not specified as they were already in effect at the time of the decision.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, headaches, and a psychiatric disability. The lumbar spine osteoarthritis case is still pending with an effective date issue.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, tinnitus, cervical spine injury, lumbar spine condition, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, heart condition, prostate condition, left foot condition, right foot condition, and seizure disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to potential exposure to commercial herbicides in Guam.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to CAD was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for cerebrovascular accident (CVA) as secondary to CAD was granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was manageable by restricted diet only during the period on appeal, and therefore does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Board has decided that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it is not a disability for which VA benefits can be granted.,The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus type II remains at 10 percent and no higher. The evidence does not support an increased rating.,The reduction in the rating for CAD, status post CABG from 60% to 30% is remanded as there was no effective date provided.,The issues of whether the effective date of the reduction in rating for CAD, status post CABG should be addressed along with the issue of whether the reduction itself was proper. These are also remanded.,The Veteran's respiratory disorder remains unestablished and not related to service or herbicide exposure.,Hypertension is presumed due to service but its etiology cannot be determined from the evidence provided.,Service connection for tremors, left arm disorder, right arm disorder, reflex conditions of extremities, back disorder, sleep apnea, skin cancer, and headaches are all remanded as their relationship to service or herbicide exposure needs further clarification.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and his current heart condition. The Veteran is presumed exposed, but further examination is needed to determine if he has ischemic heart disease or a related nonischemic heart disease.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for service connection and reopening of claims for various conditions. The specific issues are related to whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for psychiatric disorder, back disorder, stomach disorder, hypertension, sleep apnea (secondary to a psychiatric disorder), erectile dysfunction (secondary to a psychiatric disorder), cervical spine disorder, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and seizure disorder (secondary to a psychiatric disorder).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is established for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection is remanded for a left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory condition (asthma), gastrointestinal disability (GERD, hiatal hernia, and Barrett’s disease), prostate disability, and skin disability (chloracne).,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD may be related to his hypertension.,The Veteran's current prostate disability is remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed to the development and aggravation of his obstructive sleep apnea.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran’s prostate disorder, claimed as prostate distress with six to ten pads per day, to his active duty service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from January 11, 2008. The Board has remanded the issue of an increased rating for his left ankle disability.