Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of heart disease, and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is caused by his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, and thus he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the threshold criteria for TDIU, and his education, special training, and employment history are considered. The Board finds that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence as to whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no direct link between his active duty service and his current condition. The Board also noted that hypertension did not manifest within one year of discharge from service or during service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension have been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has established service connection for these conditions based on their presumptive association with herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his hypertension and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on housebound status beyond December 1, 2012. He has a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent due to diabetes mellitus and its associated conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate opinions and inextricably intertwined issues of service connection, TDIU, and the need for updated treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension all claimed due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's service records do not indicate any actual exposure to herbicide agents during his service.,Arthritis of the hands and back was also denied as it did not become manifest within one year of service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung condition, including COPD, asthma, bronchitis, and pulmonary hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding whether he has pulmonary hypertension related to his military service.

For the period from November 4, 1996 to January 27, 1997, a rating of 20 percent for hypertension is granted.,For the period from January 28, 1997 to April 27, 2016, no higher rating than 10 percent is warranted.,For the period from April 28, 2016, a rating of 20 percent for hypertension is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee strain and hypertension, finding no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The claim for right ear hearing loss was also denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address the Veteran's claims, including clarification of medical expenses and a determination of whether he required aid and attendance prior to his stroke.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for otitis media and service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, sleep apnea, ischemic heart disease, GERD, erectile dysfunction, renal failure, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and TDIU. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The case is now remanded to allow for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and provide the necessary examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, has been rated at 20 percent since December 20, 2004. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hypertension, and degenerative joint disease with chondromalacia of the right knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is being remanded for further clarification on his current employment status.