Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete records, including SSA disability benefits records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities are also being examined to determine their current severity.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and ED, finding that the conditions did not manifest within one year of discharge and were not related to service-connected IHD.

Service connection for a heart disability is granted.,New and material evidence has been received, allowing the reopening of claims for service connection for hypertension, peripheral vascular disease of bilateral lower extremities, skin disability, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. However, no new effective dates are granted as the evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.,Service connection for a heart disability is granted.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for the award of a schedular TDIU, and his education and occupational experience qualify him for such benefits. The nature and severity of these disabilities prevent him from performing gainful employment.,Effective August 20, 2015, ratings are granted for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (20%) and right lower extremity (20%).,Service connection is granted for PTSD with a disability rating of 70% effective March 9, 2015.,TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the appeals for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is also remanded.

The appeal is dismissed with respect to the issues of service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for diverticulitis and resulting colostomy.

The Board has determined that an additional VA examination and opinion are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any hypertension that may be present, including whether it is related to military service or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and potential overlap with other issues. The claims include diabetes, neuropathy, gout, hypertension, right shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and denied claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and diverticulosis. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as the Veteran's current tinnitus is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum rating available. His hypertension is also rated as a separate condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability. Service connections for lower back condition, bilateral foot condition, and pulmonary hypertension are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, but denied service connection for hypertension. The decision also grants a TDIU and awards a 70% rating for PTSD.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the other claims due to insufficient evidence on their merits.

The Veteran's appeal for hypertension was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim.,The Veteran's appeals for hepatitis C and PTSD were also dismissed as he withdrew them prior to a decision being made.,The application to reopen claims for an acquired psychiatric disability (dysthymic disorder) and erectile dysfunction is granted.

The Veteran's cerebrovascular accident and chronic headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected COPD with left pleural reaction and bronchial asthma. The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, and status post myocardial infarction with coronary artery disease are also granted as secondary to his service-connected COPD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and hypertension due to the need for additional development. The Veteran contends that his conditions are related to active service, but the VA examiners found insufficient evidence to support this claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support higher ratings, and it was determined that the Veteran could still obtain and maintain employment despite his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, low back disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension have been denied.,Service connection is not granted as the evidence does not establish an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals seeking service connection for brain tumor and increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, GERD, and hypertension have been dismissed.

A higher rating of 10 percent is granted for service-connected hypertension. Service connection for psychiatric disability and back disability are granted, but left knee disability remains remanded. Other claims related to these issues are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, Hypertensive Vascular Disease (claimed as High Blood Pressure), and Diabetes Mellitus due to lack of a VA examination for psychiatric disorders. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.