Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,While the Veteran has been diagnosed with insomnia/sleep disorder, it is not considered a compensable disability for which service connection can be granted. The Veteran's sleep issues are associated with his PTSD and not due to any service exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hypertension due to service, as there is no evidence of such condition during or within one year after service. The claim for service connection for Type II diabetes (DM) will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and pulmonary hypertension as secondary to chronic atrial fibrillation, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's combined disability rating from his service-connected conditions is 60%, which does not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU. The Board found that his unemployability was due to non-service-connected disorders, including back, neck, hand, and depression disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension was not diagnosed during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence that it is related to his military service. The Board finds the VA examiner's opinion more probative than other medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for hypertension, as it requires further development before being decided on appeal. The primary basis of his claim is that his hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD, Parkinson's disease, CAD, glaucoma, kidney disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, and sinusitis is granted due to exposure to herbicides during his service in Vietnam.

PTSD with alcohol abuse and sleeping problems was initially rated as 50 percent disabling from March 30, 2007 to February 9, 2010. From February 10, 2010 forward, the Veteran is entitled to a rating of at least 70 percent.,Chronic myofascial strain of left trapezius muscle has been rated as 10 percent disabling throughout the period on appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran was not exposed to mustard gas during service, and thus cannot establish service connection for any of his claimed disabilities based on such exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection either.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus type II and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's hypertension is found to be proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's hypertension, hiatal hernia, low back disorder, arthritis of the shoulders and knees, and left shoulder disability are not found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for hypertension in March 2012, but later vacated this dismissal due to the Veteran's clarification that he did not intend to withdraw his appeal. The issue is now remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed for possible secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder. Additional development, including a VA examination, is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his right knee disability and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected diabetes and ischemic heart disease.

The Board has decided the case needs further review due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused or aggravated by his hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a disability manifested by temporary memory loss and respiratory disabilities, were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or etiological links to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetic retinopathy. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be related to his diabetes mellitus, and there is no evidence that it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition. His diabetic retinopathy has also been denied as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining mental hygiene records from service and seeking verification of a claimed in-service stressor. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is also inextricably intertwined with his claim for service connection for hypertension with CAD.