Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has noted that additional VA treatment records have been associated with the claims file since the last consideration of the hypertension claim. The matter is being remanded for initial review by the AOJ and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case if the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder is granted. The claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, hypertension, sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, left leg, right leg, left foot, right foot, left hip, and right hip disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for right hand disability was denied. The claims for service connection of bilateral flat feet/pes planus, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and erectile dysfunction were reopened due to new evidence received since the last final decisions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and diabetes. The examiner will need to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, hepatitis, hypothyroidism, and a psychiatric disorder due to insufficient development of evidence. The appellant's service records must be reviewed, and he must be examined by VA to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including neck disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot condition (claimed as gout), acid reflux disease, migraines, and hypertension. The Veteran was not granted any increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, all of which the Veteran claimed were due to in-service herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are causing him to need assistance with activities of daily living, and he requests a VA examination to determine if he qualifies for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate. The Board has determined that further evaluation is needed due to the passage of over three years since his last VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a mood disorder and PTSD. The claims for service connection for a back disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type 2 are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and a higher rating for left upper extremity varicose veins. The hypertension claim was denied as there is no evidence of onset or aggravation during service, and the Veteran's current condition is not related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. The initial rating issue remains on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and denied increased ratings for lumbosacral spondylosis, left lower radiculopathy, and right lower radiculopathy. The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service as there is no evidence of it within one year post-service. His lumbosacral spondylosis did not result in incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest, so a higher rating could not be granted.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not related to exposure to herbicide agents and is not aggravated by diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, stroke, and a disorder manifested by low testosterone levels. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and bipolar disorder), dementia, and a sleep disorder (to include insomnia and sleep apnea) are remanded.,Service connection was not granted due to lack of evidence showing the onset or relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for a TDIU effective December 23, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and hypertension, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as there was no evidence of onset or aggravation during service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis is granted as incurred in service.,The Veteran's right fourth toe arthroplasty disability has been rated based on the Amputation Rule and no higher rating can be assigned.,Service connection for hypertension is granted, but a compensable rating cannot be assigned due to pre-existing conditions.,A VA eye examination will be scheduled to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's left eye pterygium.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension has been granted. The Board also remanded the issues of increased rating for PTSD and service connection for hypertension, with consideration given to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s hypertension is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was remanded. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension, with consideration given to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s hypertension is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for service-connected hypertension and residuals of Achilles tendon rupture have been denied as the medical evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's request to reconsider service connection for a left hip disability is granted. The claim will be reconsidered, but the criteria for service connection are not met.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and rating for right hip degenerative arthritis, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss.