Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus with hypertension and the reduction of his cataracts rating have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to any decision being made by the Board.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected, and his right knee disability remains at a 10% rating. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder, loss of vision, and hypertension due to the need for additional medical opinions considering the Veteran's subjective complaints and available medical literature.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim.,Service connection for hypertension, presumed due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, was also denied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension were not reopened, but his claim for an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board also remanded the case to obtain a new VA examination for the lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hypertension and its relation to service. The cause of death is also under review.

The Veteran's hypertension has been well-controlled by medication, and his blood pressure readings have not consistently met the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and granted it, finding that new evidence received since the final denial shows a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claim. The Board also found that hypertension is not attributable to service or related to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his lung cancer or hypertension to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially to his death from coronary artery disease.,However, the VA examiner concluded that the PTSD did not cause the coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic/musculoskeletal disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, cervical spinal strain, degenerative disc disease, upper extremity radiculopathy associated with cervical strain, and lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, eye disorder, and hypertension are all found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral hand disability, hypertension, PTSD, sleep apnea, colon cancer, and gastrointestinal disability are remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The current ratings for PTSD and hypertension remain unchanged.

The Veteran's hypertension was diagnosed after service and is presumed to have started during service due to elevated blood pressure readings. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for GERD was denied, and the claim for service connection for hypertension was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for GERD under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions on the relationship between service and the Veteran's hypertension and cerebrovascular accident.

The Veteran's tinnitus, sleep apnea, pulmonary hypertension, COPD, bronchitis, and asthma are granted as service-connected.,A 10 percent rating is granted for the fractured proximal joint right great toe with degenerative arthritis since July 7, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction in rating for his kidney condition was dismissed. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from October 2, 2014.