Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues were remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for deviated septum, left concha bullosa as secondary to deviated septum, right nasal polyps as secondary to deviated septum, and sleep apnea as secondary to deviated septum. Service connection for hypertension and heart disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need to verify his reported service in Vietnam. The specific conditions at issue are ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and stroke.

The Veteran's gouty arthritis is rated at 40 percent from March 22, 2012. The rating for diabetes mellitus and hypertension remains unchanged.

The Board has not decided the service connection claims for all conditions, as some issues were granted and others denied. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a fungal infection of the ears was reopened but denied due to lack of current evidence. Claims for tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypertension, stomach condition, and skin condition (toenail fungus) were not reopened as there was no new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye disability is denied. The Board found no current evidence of a compensable eye disability and the medical opinion was not prejudicial to the Veteran.

The Board has decided that service connection for hypertension is granted. However, the cardiovascular disorder other than hypertension (including arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and congestive heart failure) remains in dispute due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal on most of the issues has been withdrawn and is dismissed. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, upper extremities, hypertension, gout, asthma, COPD, and right ankle disability have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current diagnosis of hypertension began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle disability is denied because there is no evidence of marked limitation of motion at any time during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches is denied as there is no indication that his migraines have been productive of characteristic prostrating attacks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PFB warrants a 10 percent rating, but not higher. The appeal for service connection of HTN and its secondary effects on kidney disease, CAD, and stroke is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. TDIU remains inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran withdrew all issues in appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active service and is not related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for service connection for congestive heart failure and right eye disability (stroke) are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbar spinal strain, hypertension, and dysthymic disorder are remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left elbow disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for hypertension and a TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn both appeals.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to the Veteran's incarceration and inability to obtain necessary medical records. The claims include service connection for various conditions such as shell fragment wound, hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus condition, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), hypertension, gastrointestinal condition, skin problems, and sleeping disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The effective date is set at the date of receipt of the new evidence, which is April 20, 2016.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for hypertension was denied. The claims for increased ratings for left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as the TDIU claim, were all denied.