Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations and for additional development in connection with his claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, cataracts, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, stroke residuals, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety).

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is not related to the Veteran's military service or his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure and secondary to service-connected ischemic heart disease, as it is unclear whether there is a link between these conditions based on the provided medical opinions.

The appeal for service connection of COPD has been withdrawn and dismissed. The claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; bronchitis; gastrointestinal disorder; skin disorder of the inner thighs and under arms; and skin disorder of the feet have been remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has remanded two issues: asthma and hypertension. The Veteran's asthma and hypertension are being evaluated based on their onset during service or due to exposure to hazardous agents in service.

Service connection is denied for a bilateral eye condition, bilateral hearing loss, and right ankle fracture.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was previously denied due to lack of evidence showing the condition within one year of discharge or being related to active military service.

The Veteran's hypertension, sleep apnea, and allergic rhinitis are all granted. The Veteran is awarded a 30% rating for his service-connected allergic rhinitis since January 26, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, retinopathy, and onychomycosis as claimed due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not show the Veteran set foot in Vietnam or was exposed to herbicides during his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, diabetes mellitus type 2, kidney condition, cardiomyopathy, and hypertension have all been denied.,There is no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors underlying the diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to April 26, 2013, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter, for PTSD. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia is denied as there is no diagnosis of insomnia due to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's claim for initial compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss is denied because the evidence does not show that his hearing impairment meets the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for initial compensable evaluation for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his psychiatric, respiratory, and cardiovascular conditions. The claims are also remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his knee and foot disabilities.

All pending claims for service connection and increased ratings are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for colon cancer and the cause of death, as well as a TDIU. The Veteran's hypertension and hemorrhoids were found not to warrant increased ratings, while folliculitis was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, arteriovenous fistula, cerebral aneurysm, and migraine headaches due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has ordered the AOJ to obtain and associate with the claims file copies of the Veteran’s complete VA treatment records since September 2013. The AOJ is also instructed to request authorization for the Veteran's Mayo Clinic treatment records from Jacksonville, Florida. Additionally, an addendum opinion on the cause of the Veteran's left leg fracture should be obtained, addressing subsequent medical evidence reflecting a pattern of falls after episodes of dizziness. An addendum opinion on whether hypertension is related to herbicide exposure and secondary to diabetes should also be provided. Finally, an addendum opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s cirrhosis of the liver should be obtained, including its relation to presumed Vietnam exposure, service-connected diabetes, and pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's seizure disability and major depressive disorder are granted. The Veteran is awarded a 70% rating for his major depressive disorder prior to July 15, 2015. He also receives TDIU benefits prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be etiologically related to his hypertension, and thus service connection for hypertension is granted. The issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is granted with a 10 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.