Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied.,The claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension were remanded due to lack of verification of herbicide exposure. The compensation claim for hemorrhoids is also remanded.,The Veteran's hypertension claim remains pending as the herbicide exposure has not been verified, but if confirmed, it would be related to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's hemorrhoid claim was remanded with instructions to determine whether his August 2011 and December 2012 colonoscopies aggravated his pre-existing hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and a heart condition have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or etiological relationship to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and headaches have been remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for hypertension, as it requires an additional examination and opinion due to recent NAS findings regarding herbicide exposure and hypertension.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection and rating determinations due to his death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and opinions regarding his hypertension, skin condition, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, right upper extremity radicular pain, pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for urethritis was denied. The rating for IVDS from August 15, 2007 to November 26, 2014 was granted at a 40 percent level. Other issues such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), erectile dysfunction, and SMC benefits were remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type 2, thyroid disorder, hypertension, low back disorder, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, headaches, vertigo, and tinnitus due to potential exposure to herbicides during service.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a direct basis as they are not presumed diseases related to military service.

Service connection for lumbar spine disability and left knee disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection for left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and sleep apnea are denied. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability is granted.,A rating more than 20 percent for a right shoulder disability is denied, as well as a rating more than 10 percent for right knee disability and tinnitus. A compensable rating for hemorrhoids is denied, and a rating more than 30 percent for herpes is denied.,TDIU is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability, residuals of stroke, heart murmur, and hypertension as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred during or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for further development or clarification of evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, gall bladder stone, chronic kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, and enlarged prostate, due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on tinnitus, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including a major depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, vision disability, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, gout, and granted a 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss. The effective date of the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not being advanced.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicide agents and determine if any of the claimed conditions are related to such exposure. The issues will be reviewed again after this verification.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board has also remanded the issues of systemic joint, thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, peripheral vestibular, scars, hypertension, and migraine headaches disabilities, as well as acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for insomnia, hypertension, chronic anemia, and a seizure disorder due to potential in-service herbicide exposure. Additional development is needed including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's hypertension and associated renal failure are being remanded for further review, as the initial rating and TDIU claims are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran is granted service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is remanded as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is remanded as related to exposure to herbicide agents and/or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,The Veteran's porphyria cutanea tarda is remanded as due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, liver condition, vision condition, and acquired psychiatric condition as the evidence did not support a causal link to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II. The hypertension claim is denied as there is no evidence of onset in service or within one year post-service. For diabetes, a 20 percent rating is granted prior to March 29, 2012, but the Board has remanded for further development regarding whether regulation of activities was required.