Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding no probative medical evidence linking the Veteran's current hypertension to his heat intolerance episodes during National Guard service.,The Board also denied service connection for a heat intolerance disorder, noting that while the Veteran experienced multiple heat injury episodes, there is no objective evidence of any residual disability from these incidents.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension was granted. The appeal is granted in this regard, but other claims remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lipomas was denied in a previous decision, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to active service.,Service connection for GERD is denied due to lack of evidence showing that the condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Service connection for hepatitis C is denied because there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current diagnosis and his period of active service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II did not cause or aggravate his hypertension, high cholesterol and lipid imbalance, skin disorder, peripheral vascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, bacterial lung infection, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate these conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for hypertension was denied. His claim for secondary service connection for cerebrovascular accident (claimed as stroke) was also denied.

Service connection granted for left ear hearing loss and OSA, but denied for right ear hearing loss. Service connection is also granted for hypertension and PTSD.,Left hand tunnel syndrome service connection is denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for hypertension and migraines, but these issues are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's hypertension and migraines may be related to his period of honorable service from August 28, 1978, to May 22, 1984.

The Veteran's hypertension was not manifested during service and is not related to service.,The Veteran’s current disability rating of 10 percent for tinnitus is the highest schedular disability rating for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and increased evaluation for ischemic heart disease have been reopened. The claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease has been granted to a 30 percent level.

Service connection for hypertension is granted. An evaluation higher than 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.,An evaluation higher than 10 percent for residuals of appendectomy (abdominal scar disability) is denied. An effective date earlier than March 13, 2013, for the award of service connection for OSA is denied. An effective date earlier than September 30, 2014, for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD is denied.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to address the Veteran's claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral glaucoma and bilateral cataracts as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, and hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's combined rating may be adjusted so as to meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU once the disability ratings and effective dates for these conditions are implemented.

The Board has remanded all of the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for bilateral knees, shoulders, gout, dizziness (vertigo), sleep apnea, heart disorder, hypertension, hepatitis B, and residuals of a shrapnel wound. The AOJ is instructed to make appropriate requests to the SSA for records concerning the Veteran and to obtain clinical records from his in-service hospitalization.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not have onset during service and is not otherwise related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's death was due to colon cancer with untreated hypertension. The appellant filed for DIC benefits within one year of the Veteran's death, so the effective date is set as the first day of the month on which the Veteran died, May 1, 2009.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his hypertension is rated at 10 percent since May 10, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence supports a 10 percent rating for hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, hematuria, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), and hypertension. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a finding of exposure to hazardous materials or toxins during service, and there was no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, a low back disorder, and a right foot disorder due to incomplete development and lack of medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during service and inadequate examination in determining the cause of death.