Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a back disability, but denied service connection for right knee and left knee disabilities. The case of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, heart disease (to include CAD, cardiomyopathy and CHF), residuals of a CVA, and PAD. The Veteran's STRs showed no evidence of these conditions during or immediately after service.,Service connection was not granted as the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss as there is insufficient evidence to determine if his conditions are service-connected or what rating should be assigned.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and congestive heart failure as secondary to hypertension. The Veteran's lower back disability, initially rated as lumbar osteoarthritis, is now rated at 40 percent from May 20, 2014, to December 21, 2017, with a 20 percent rating thereafter for cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The left knee strain with shin splints remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, acid reflux, and erectile dysfunction were not found to have begun during service or be related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) was also not found to have begun during service or be related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the criteria for TDIU have been met since November 20, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The claims will be reviewed with additional medical examinations to determine if there is a link between the conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension as the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence of herbicide exposure during his service in Korea.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including generalized arthritis disorder, bilateral elbow disorders, bilateral hand disorders, a back disorder, hypertension, skin cancer, and head disorder. The effective dates for the grants of service connection were not earlier than September 18, 2013.,An initial compensable rating was denied for hearing loss and an increased rating for tinnitus was also denied.

The Veteran's vascular hypertension is rated at 10% and muscle aches are rated at 0%. Effective December 30, 2009, service connection for these conditions was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to potential relevance of civilian medical records from the Veteran's employment with the U.S. government.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features is granted as service-connected. The Board also remanded the issues of hypertension and any other acquired psychiatric disorders for further development.

The Veteran's death was due to a stroke caused by anticoagulation therapy, which is linked to his service-connected hypertension and smoking. The Board found that the service-connected condition (hypertension) was a principal cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disorder is denied. The Board also remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and TDIU, as they are inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities), obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension have been granted. The decision also remanded several other issues.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a right knee meniscus tear was granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension, which has required continuous medication, does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that VA medical opinions are necessary to address the potential relationship between the Veteran's service-connected diabetes and his claimed vision disorders, sleep apnea, hypertension, and cerebral hemorrhagic stroke. The claims for secondary service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypercholesterolemia has been denied as it does not constitute a disability for VA benefits purposes.,New and material evidence having been received, the claims for hypertension and alcoholism have both been reopened. Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (depression and/or mood disorder), migraine headaches, and sleep apnea on secondary basis to service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's joint pain, coronary artery disease, diabetes, eye disorder, glaucoma, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disorder (asthma), liver disorder, kidney disorder, erectile dysfunction, residuals of TBI, restless leg syndrome, GERD, and other issues have been remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning and need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for hypertension, specifically whether it is proximately due to medication used to treat rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.