Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral knee strain, costochondritis (claimed as a right-side rib cage injury), bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. The Board found no current disabilities that meet VA criteria for these conditions.

The claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death was denied because there was no evidence to show that his cause of death (sepsis due to staph aureus bacterium) was related to his military service. The appellant did not submit new and material evidence within one year of the final denial.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are each rated at 20 percent, as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent.

Service connection is granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis, hemorrhoids, and PTSD.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, insomnia, hypertension, arthritis of the lumbar spine, and headaches are remanded.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's PTSD effective from October 22, 2008. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's heart disorder and hypertension are not service connected due to lack of evidence showing a relationship with his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension are granted. However, the claim for hypertension is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if it is related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, initial rating for ischemic heart disease, effective date for hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of hypertension in service or within one year after discharge. The Veteran did not provide any corroborating evidence to support his contention.

The Board has decided to remand the claims due to insufficient private medical records, which may contain relevant information for the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but these claims are still being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

An initial 10 percent rating for hypertension is granted, but an increased rating is remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination.

The Board has denied service connection for gout, a bilateral knee condition other than gout, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension due to lack of evidence supporting their onset or relationship to service. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension and granted service connection for atherosclerosis. The claims of service connection for abdominal aortic aneurysm and thoracic aorta aneurysm are remanded due to their inextricability with the hypertension issue.

The Board denied service connection for TBI and right knee disorder, but granted the reopening of claims for these conditions. Service connection was not established for DM, hypertension, chloracne, migraine headaches, peripheral neuropathy, or plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's requests to reopen her claims of service connection for an eye disability, hypertension, and PTSD were denied as new and material evidence was not received. The Board found that the provided evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, right wrist disability, and scars on the right wrist are all granted service connection.,Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss, otitis media, and residuals of complication from a vasectomy. However, these conditions do not meet the criteria for VA compensation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, which was a stroke due to or as a consequence of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), is service-connected. The Board found that there was at least as likely as not that the AML was caused by his conceded exposure to benzene and other chemical solvents during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension is granted. Service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease and IVDS, as well as radiculopathy, right sciatic nerve, are restored. The claim for right hip strain is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease, fibromyalgia, bilateral elbow disability, fatigue, hypertension, incontinence, thyroid disease, and migraines. Service connection was granted for menstrual issues.