Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has restored a 20% rating for the Veteran's residuals of right ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease effective November 17, 2014. The issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for hypertension was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right hand fracture, low back disorder, and hypertension. The Veteran failed to report for VA examinations scheduled in March 2018 and offered no good cause.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction (ED), and a bilateral eye disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in the October 2016 VA examinations. The AOJ is required to obtain new opinions addressing whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no medical evidence supporting a current diagnosis of hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the left upper and right upper extremities, as well as radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a degenerative bones disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been dismissed.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The claims for hypertension, prostate condition, and heart condition have been dismissed.

The Board has decided that additional development is necessary to determine if the Veteran's hypertension and heart attack residuals are related to his military service. The records need to be searched for any missing treatment records, including those from Germany, Fort Dix, and private medical centers.

The Veteran's hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and opiate-induced mood disorder are all rated based on their current severity.,The Veteran’s patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative changes of the left knee, right knee, and cervical spine require further examination to determine appropriate ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for essential hypertension, finding that it did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service and was neither proximately due to nor aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has dismissed all issues as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and arthritis of the ankles, knees, cervical, and thoracolumbar spine as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its related complications, as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further examination and development due to a lack of medical evidence linking the condition to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for mitral valve prolapse, hypertension, and nerve damage (C2-C3). The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), a neck disability, and hiatal hernia with GERD are all remanded. The Board will consider new evidence submitted since the last final rating decisions to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD).

The Veteran's cause of death is denied as there is no evidence that his service-connected disabilities or any in-service exposure to herbicides caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, bilateral plantar calcaneal spurring, pes planus, hallux valgus, sleep apnea, hypertension, right upper extremity neurological disability, and left upper extremity neurological disability as secondary to her service-connected lumbar spine spondylolysis. The VA is directed to obtain relevant medical records, including VA treatment records and Workman's Compensation records, and provide the Veteran with appropriate examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, renal dysfunction, and neurological impairment of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain VA treatment records from April 1971 to June 1992, focusing on those from the Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, which may contain information about the Veteran's hypertension and its manifestation within a year of his separation from service.