Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a 10 percent evaluation, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal for all issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hypertension, left stomach scar, and allergic rhinitis. The case is being remanded to consider additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all listed conditions have been dismissed as the claims were withdrawn by her in June 2013. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a neck condition, left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease, left upper extremity condition, right upper extremity condition, and left leg condition are being remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep disorder (including sleep apnea) and hypertension due to potential in-service onset or aggravation. The Veteran reported having sleep problems shortly after discharge from service, and his wife testified about gasping and breathing stops during sleep. Service records show a high blood pressure reading in 1970. Further medical examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and requests that VA attempts to obtain any missing service treatment records from Winn Army Community Hospital, Camp Casey, and the National Personnel Records Center.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left wrist disorder, left arm disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are granted as these conditions are found to have originated during active service.

The Veteran's hypertension and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) were not shown to be related to service. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension has been remanded due to the need for updated medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, cataracts, and vertigo. The cases are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and left hand and elbow numbness secondary to ulnar neuropathy. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's annual VA clothing allowance for the year 2014 due to use of a motorized wheelchair (a Permobil Power Wheelchair) is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if his wheelchair tends to wear or tear his clothing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct a psychiatric examination using the DSM-5 criteria, and determine if sleep apnea is related to his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a stroke as secondary to her service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disability and sleep disorder has been withdrawn.,The request to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension has been granted, but the issue remains remanded due to lack of evidence linking hypertension to service.

The Veteran's entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate is granted since February 28, 2017 due to having a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the Veteran's back injury and PTSD, which may have contributed to his hypertension and death. The VA is required to obtain additional medical opinions and develop records related to these issues.

The Veteran's non-service connected disabilities, including hypertension and cervical spine injury, have not prevented him from obtaining and maintaining a full-time job for the past five to six years. Therefore, his disability does not meet the criteria for entitlement to non-service-connected pension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral wrists, hypertension, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, as the evidence did not show that they precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.