Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for right knee condition, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and eczema before the hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was granted with a rating of 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The claims for service connection for colon cancer and hypertension were reopened based on new evidence submitted since their previous denials. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain denied.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension, finding no evidence of a nexus to service. The claim for high cholesterol was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding hypertension. The examiner must consider blood pressure readings from prior to April 2002 in determining if there is a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder disability, glaucoma, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which the Board finds requires additional development.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has found that she is entitled to this rating based on the use of continuous medication, and no higher. Her knee disabilities are currently rated at noncompensable evaluations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, diagnosed as other specified trauma disorder, is granted service connection. Service connection for hyperlipidemia is denied. The heart disability, ischemic heart disease and bradycardia, status post myocardial infarction and pacemaker implantation, is granted service connection. Type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension are both granted service connection. Service connection for a respiratory/lung disability and bilateral cataracts remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, as he contends it is related to his residual cyst condition. The hypertension and residual cyst claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pulmonary hypertension, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance and/or by being housebound prior to August 21, 2017, and since October 1, 2018. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the neck, entitlement to service connection for memory dysfunction, and entitlement to higher evaluations for residuals of a right shoulder injury, left and right knee instability, left knee arthritis, and right knee strain are inextricably intertwined with this SMC claim. The Board will not accept jurisdiction over these issues at this time.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The claim for PTSD has been reopened, but further evidence is needed to establish its etiology.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted, and the issue of increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded.

The appeals for service connection were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including to obtain VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of any manifestations associated with the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The matter is also REMANDED for consideration of whether the Veteran’s claim for an extraschedular rating pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b)(1) should be submitted to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director, Compensation and Pension Service, for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 30 percent rating effective July 18, 2012. The appeal for higher ratings and service connection for other conditions are denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for PTSD is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.