Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to September 24, 2015 and July 30, 2007. The appeals have been remanded for further development in several areas including service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; skin disabilities of the feet and ankles; OSA; an acquired psychiatric disorder; asthma rating; and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis was denied as there were no current or historical diagnoses of the condition.,A 50 percent rating, but no higher, prior to March 20, 2017, for PTSD was granted. The Veteran's symptoms since March 20, 2017 did not warrant a higher rating.

Bladder cancer is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to Agent Orange exposure.,PTSD is granted an increased rating of 100% from May 12, 2014.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, cerebrovascular accident (ischemic stroke), and erectile dysfunction due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. The respiratory disability claim remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of heat stroke, hypertension, epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmia, lower extremity edema (including spider veins), headaches, and neurological effects have all been denied.,There is no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer as secondary to prostatitis with prostate hypertrophy is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for a neurologic disability, to include radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, as secondary to degenerative changes of the cervical spine.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for a neurologic disability, to include radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to degenerative changes of the lumbar spine.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for histoplasmosis, type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension, finding no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between any current diagnoses and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension. The claim will be returned for a new VA opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and consideration of internet articles submitted by the Veteran. The claim will be reviewed with a new VA examination to determine if hypertension is directly related to service, due to herbicide exposure, or caused/aggravated by diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from Moody Air Force Base.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, acne with residual scarring, sleep apnea, tension headaches, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, right shoulder tendinitis, lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, chronic right ankle strain, bilateral pes planus, right great toe injury, hypertension, left and right knee instability, and traumatic brain injury, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since June 11, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for primary sclerosing cholangitis with cirrhosis status post liver transplant prior to June 25, 2016 was denied. The reduction from 100% to 30% for the service-connected status post liver transplant was found to be improper and restored the Veteran's rating to 100%. Service connection was granted for osteoporosis, hypertension, steroid acne, and periodontal disease secondary to medications required for service-connected status post liver transplant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and he is now entitled to VA examinations to determine the etiology of his hypertension, stroke, peripheral neuropathy, prostate disability, and ED. The Board has also remanded these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disability have been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology has not been established.,For his right hand disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, right leg disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, major depressive disorder, cervical spine DDD, degenerative joint disease (DJD) and scoliosis of the lumbar spine, and TDIU claims, these have been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology has not been established.,For his LLE radiculopathy claim, the Veteran's disability was first ascertainable on February 12, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, residuals of malaria, back disability, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient medical evidence, including the results of a May 2017 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not caused, in part, by his service-connected schizophrenia. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's atrial fibrillation and skin condition are denied as not related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his claim for service connection for vision loss has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.