Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and OSA, but denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be at least as likely as not due to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an irregular heartbeat disability (diagnosed as cardiac arrhythmia) has been reopened and is now being evaluated on the merits.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was previously denied, but new evidence received since that decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and ESRD, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA steroid injections did not result in additional disability to the Veteran's right foot, ankle or heel.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service, and there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during service. The Board finds that the current diagnosis of hypertension did not manifest within one year of service separation or since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), hiatal hernia (GERD), blood clots, night sweats, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are all service-connected.

The Board finds that the Veteran's long history of taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat his service-connected disabilities did not cause or aggravate his non-service-connected hypertension and chronic kidney disease, nor was it a primary cause of death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension, cervical spine disability, lumbar spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease, and right shoulder replacement (dominant) are all rated at their maximum possible evaluations under the applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran is not entitled to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another prior to January 1, 2013 or beginning March 1, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his diastolic pressure was predominantly less than 100, and he did not have a history of diastolic pressure elevation to predominantly 100 or more. The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent disabling).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his hypertension and posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as assessing the functional impairment caused by his service-connected disabilities prior to October 29, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and hepatitis C due to a December 2001 VA blood transfusion. The claims will be reviewed with additional evidence, including service treatment records from his second period of active duty.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain developed in service and is now granted as service-connected.,Service connection for hypertension was granted effective July 2, 2013. The claimant has not provided evidence of a prior claim before this date.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted effective December 1, 2014. The claimant has not provided evidence of a prior claim before this date.,Service connection for low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted effective September 2, 2008. The claimant has not provided evidence of a prior claim before this date.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are required for the Veteran's increased rating claims and service connection claim. The case is therefore REMANDED.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and a compensable initial disability rating of 10 percent for hypertension, effective January 24, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, except for reopening a claim for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals seeking to reopen claims for service connection for hypertension and a low back disability.

The Veteran has been granted compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a neurological disability resulting from VA surgery in November 2009, and service connection for his mood disorder secondary to that neurological disability.,Service connection is also granted for gastrointestinal disorders (manifested by H. pylori), hypertension, fibromyalgia, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to the neurological disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to service.,Evidence received since a final December 1996 rating decision includes new and material evidence relating to his right leg disability, which he seeks to reopen. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right leg disability separate from radiculopathy is reopened.