Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, is not service-connected as it was not caused or etiologically related to his period of active service at Camp Lejeune. The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran’s lung cancer to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's heart condition, missing private treatment records, and discrepancies in the severity of his PTSD symptoms. The appeals are now pending further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to obtain his service personnel records. The Board will request any inpatient treatment records from Fort Eustis and McDonald Hospital, as well as his service personnel records.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, including a brain tumor, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is granted service connection on a direct basis. The Veteran's hypertension, which requires continuous medication for control of diastolic pressure above 100, is granted an initial compensable disability rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his disabilities due to incomplete medical opinions, lack of VA examination findings during flare-ups, and need for additional private treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease as secondary to hypertension, and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's hypertension was not shown within the presumptive period or by continuity of symptomatology. His coronary artery disease is not proximately due to his service-connected disability. His allergic rhinitis did not meet the criteria for a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and acquired psychiatric disability due to new evidence submitted after a previous denial. The claim will be reconsidered without regard to the prior decision.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, heart disability, hypertension, and forehead scar. The cases are remanded to schedule VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension have been reopened. The evidence now supports the possibility that these conditions may be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension and a prior effective date has been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The claims for TDIU and service connection for hypertension and diabetes are remanded due to the need for additional development of records, including verification of National Guard service and treatment records. The Veteran's unemployability claim will be referred to the Director of VA Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration. For hypertension and diabetes, a new examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and the shell fragment wounds issue. The appellant is seeking service connection for both causes.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, heart disability (including ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease), obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and kidney disability. The Veteran is to be provided with a VA examination regarding his claimed tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and renal disability, as these conditions are related to diabetes mellitus. The Veteran needs to provide authorization for VA to obtain his private treatment records from San Cristobal Hospital and undergo a medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address issues identified in the Joint Motion, including the Veteran's medication history and reports of service-related events.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred in service.,An acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea) are remanded for further development.,Hypertension is remanded for further development.,Left and right wrist disabilities are remanded for further development.,,

The Board has not made a decision on service connection for hypertension, but has determined that more information is needed to make an informed decision.

The Veteran's hypertension was denied service connection as there is no evidence of a diagnosis within one year of separation from service and the preponderance of the evidence fails to establish that it is related to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's right ankle disability prior to January 23, 2018 did not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent due to limited motion. However, from January 23, 2018, the Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for marked limited motion.