Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to new evidence received. The issues of entitlement to service connection for other conditions related to Camp Lejeune exposure are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was restored to a 70% disability rating effective June 1, 2015. The RO reduced the Veteran’s PTSD rating from 70% to 30%, but this reduction was improper and has been restored.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for obtaining missing service records and verifying the Appellant's duty status during her medical events. The heart disorder case is also being reopened due to new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder and thus, service connection for this condition is denied. The claims for hypertension, heart disability, neurogenic bladder, deep vein thrombosis status post amputation of the left leg, and a disability manifested by a loss of sensation of the right leg are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the pending claim for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further development, including obtaining relevant federal records and providing adequate opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Veteran's sleeping disorder, hypertension, GERD, and tinea versicolor were denied as not having been incurred or aggravated by service.,Service connection was also denied for these conditions on a secondary basis to his service-connected knee disorders.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea, a cervical spine disability, and thyroid cancer. The decision also restored the 50% rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and/or neuropathy due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. Service connection for high cholesterol is denied.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left leg, right elbow fracture, gout, COPD, heart disorder (including coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus have been granted. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD remains pending.

This decision dismisses the appeal for service connection of scarring above right eye. The Veteran's appeals on right arm/shoulder disability, right knee disability, hypertension, and TBI residuals are remanded.,The Board found no current diagnosis of a right arm/shoulder or right knee disability, thus denying service connection for these conditions.,Hypertension is remanded due to the absence of relevant private medical records. The Veteran's TBI claim is also remanded as further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for periodontal disease is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition. The claim for erectile dysfunction was dismissed due to lack of case or controversy.,Service connection for PTSD and MDD remains at 50 percent, but the Veteran asserts that he deserves a higher rating. The Board finds that a 70 percent rating is warranted from February 27, 2007.,The Veteran's sleep disorder claim was remanded due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner’s opinion regarding causation or aggravation.,Service connection for hypertension remains denied as there is no evidence of secondary service connection. The Veteran's essential hypertension emerged prior to his diabetes diagnosis.,A VA cold weather injury examination and medical opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran has a left hand disorder due to frostbite and service-connected diabetes.,The Veteran’s right hand disorder claim was remanded as there is no evidence of secondary service connection. The Veteran asserts that he has trigger finger, but this condition may be related to his service-connected diabetes.,Service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy remains denied due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding causation or aggravation.,Service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was also remanded as there is no evidence of secondary service connection. The Veteran asserts that he has bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, but this condition may be related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and hypertension, finding that a new VA examination is needed to address her in-service exposures and symptomatology.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for arthropathy and joint pain, specifically involving the left and right ankles and the left and right hips, has been granted. The evidence now suggests that the Veteran may have psoriatic arthritis affecting his ankles and hips.,The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a lung condition, claimed as secondary to medications taken to treat service-connected psoriasis, has also been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical records and for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's gout, hypertension, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and high blood pressure was denied. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his military service, which could potentially establish a secondary service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including MDD and PTSD, hypertension, microscopic hematuria, and actinic keratosis are all granted as service connected. However, the issues of microscopic hematuria and actinic keratosis secondary to herbicide exposure remain pending.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, bilateral foot disorder, and kidney disease as they are not related to the Veteran's active duty.,The VA examiners found that these conditions did not have onset during service and were unrelated to any event, illness, or injury in service.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for hypertension, the severance of service connection for lower extremity radiculopathy, and evaluations for wrist and knee conditions. Additional Social Security Administration records are needed to support these appeals.