Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including recurrent headaches, hearing loss, tinnitus, low back pain, knee problems, PTSD, hypertension, heart issues, pulmonary conditions, vision problems, and fatigue. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records and conduct examinations to determine if these disabilities are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or necessary adaptive equipment due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria for loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, nor does he have ankylosis of his knees or hips. Therefore, he is ineligible for financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and PTSD), left foot disability, and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in service or secondary to a service-connected condition.,Service connection cannot be granted because the Veteran has not provided any specific allegations regarding these disabilities. There are also no complaints, treatment records, or diagnoses related to these conditions during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a femur fracture and hypertension, as well as his claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not show current diagnoses or functional impairment related to these conditions.

The Board is unable to locate the death certificate and requires additional medical opinions regarding the cause of death. The appellant seeks service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, which includes in-service migraine headaches, diabetes, hypertension, hysterectomy, and metastatic brain tumor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for genital herpes, left elbow disability, and hypertension have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for genital herpes but denied for hypertension. The Veteran's left elbow disability is being remanded for further evaluation. His right elbow limitation of flexion remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's hypertension has worsened and caused hospitalization, necessitating the remand to obtain relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's tinea cruris and herpes zoster were granted service connection. The Board also found that the evidence was at least in equipoise for his other conditions, including right ear hearing loss disability, costochondritis, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, psoriasis, heart disability, hypertension, IBS, cholecystectomy, and thyroid disability.

The Veteran's GERD is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The cases for prostate hypertrophy, bilateral eye disability, hypertension, and tension headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including Parkinson’s Disease and diabetes mellitus with hypertension, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis and hypertension were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to active service.,For the claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for high cholesterol, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, and a disability causing acid reflux due to incomplete development of records and need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) is denied as the condition does not constitute a disability for which VA compensation benefits can be granted.,Service connection is granted for chronic kidney disease secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. The issue of hypertension remains pending and requires further development due to Agent Orange exposure.,The claim for hypertension has been remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding its etiology related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's service treatment records being fire-related and unavailable. The Veteran is diagnosed with aortic stenosis, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. The Board requires a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded four issues: service connection for PTSD, evaluation in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain, evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability, and evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities and determine their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension as there was no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment during active service, and the current condition is not related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for hypertension and asthma, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted since the last final rating decisions.

The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder is reopened. Service connection for a respiratory condition and hypertension are denied. An initial disability rating of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is granted.

Service connection is granted for hypothyroidism, diabetes as secondary to hypothyroidism, palpitations of the heart and high cholesterol as secondary to hypothyroidism. Service connection for hypertension remains pending.