Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension, left ankle ulceration and poor circulation in the left leg, and an acquired psychiatric disorder for further development. The ulnar nerve disorder case remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations, additional service treatment records, and updated outpatient treatment records.

The Veteran's cataracts and hypertension are being remanded for further examination and opinion as the current medical opinions do not adequately address their relationship to service or diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right lower extremity condition (claimed as right leg, knee, ankle, and foot pain radiating from the low back), and hypertension have all been denied.

The Veteran's applications to reopen claims for service connection for bronchitis, obstructive sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and hypertension have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to support reopening these claims. The Veteran’s current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for skin disability. The Veteran's exposure to herbicides is under investigation, and his hypertension needs further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, finding that the conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, panic attacks, bilateral hearing loss, memory loss, and PTSD due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to non-compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's surviving spouse is being provided another opportunity for the claims file to be updated and any necessary medical opinions obtained.

The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 12, 2010 because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection as it is related to his post-service symptomatology, which he has reported since the early 1970s.

The Veteran's PTSD, hearing loss in the left ear, and tinnitus have been granted service connection. However, additional development is needed to determine the existence and etiology of hypertension, right hand disorder, TBI, bilateral eye disorder, and neck disorder.,Hypertension has not yet been determined as incurred in service due to lack of definitive evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated at an initial non-compensable rating, but the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted due to his blood pressure readings. The issue of service connection for headaches and dizziness was referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including exposure to herbicides, or if it was caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right leg and nerve damage of the bilateral legs are remanded.,Service connection for elevated cholesterol is denied as it is not a compensable disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing VA treatment records and private medical records, as well as additional questions raised by the Veteran's March 2018 correspondence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability, hypertension, and headaches were not incurred or aggravated during his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board found that the level of hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations. For hypertension, the claim was denied due to lack of evidence establishing its onset or causation related to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, headaches, and dizziness did not manifest within one year of service or are otherwise causally connected to active service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to additional VA treatment records and consideration of a recent VA examination report. The claim for service connection for hypertension was not reopened as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.