Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected disabilities, but the Board needs further medical opinions to determine if these conditions aggravated other significant conditions that contributed to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DM was granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Thailand. His hypertension and atlanto-occipital syndrome with headaches were also granted, though the specific rating assigned is not provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted. The effective dates are not specified as the appeals were remanded.,A claim for hypertension was also remanded, but no effective date is provided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in a previous decision, and the effective date of the current grant cannot be earlier than when he filed his most recent claim to reopen.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as the rating for degenerative arthritis in both knees. The Veteran's appeal is granted due to a timely notice of disagreement filed regarding these issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is denied as there was no in-service injury, event or disease that caused the condition and continuity of symptomatology has not been established.,The Veteran's sleep apnea does not warrant an initial rating in excess of 50 percent as he did not meet the criteria for chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or required tracheostomy.,The Veteran's hypertension is not compensable as there was no diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more noted in his medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and traumatic brain injury, but denied service connection for hypertension. The claims for hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of prostatitis and skin problems was remanded. The appeals for bilateral diabetic retinopathy, renal insufficiency with hypertension (due to diabetes mellitus), and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities were not resolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicides and unit records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure has been reopened, with the evidence showing a current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease. The Board finds that this condition is at least as likely as not related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted based on evidence suggesting noise exposure in service and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating and reinstatement of SMC at the housebound rate due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective December 29, 1993. However, the issue of TDIU prior to that date is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities during this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and his hypertension is rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's PTSD, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the knees, and tinnitus are all currently rated appropriately. The appeal is remanded for further development on issues related to service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back condition and hypertension due to insufficient evidence regarding his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's low back condition was aggravated by his 2010 period of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder (secondary to posttraumatic arthritis of the right knee), hypertension, cepahlgia, cervicothoracic spine disorder, thoracic spine disorder (low back condition), bilateral hip condition, and left sciatic radicular pain have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, and a respiratory disorder (claimed as lung condition) because the evidence did not show a relationship between these conditions and active service.,An initial rating in excess of 60 percent for CAD from November 1, 2014 was also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including the effective date of service connection for sleep apnea and evaluations for various disabilities. The Veteran's claims for PTSD and a skin disability are also pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease/Barrett’s Syndrome, and back condition are granted as service-connected due to in-service combat noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for various service-connected disabilities, including lumbar osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, myocardial infarction, hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and GERD. The Veteran is also being asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain his treatment records from private facilities and a VA examination.