Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for right knee disorder, upper-gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, hypertension, sleep apnea, and others. The TDIU claim is also being considered as a component of these increased rating claims.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral pes planus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions or examinations.,The Veteran's claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy is also being remanded as it may be related to his service-connected lumbar strain and knee disorder.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral pes planus is being remanded because there is insufficient evidence regarding whether the condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is being remanded due to a lack of medical opinion on its etiology, as it may be related to his bladder disorder and sleep disorder.,The Veteran's claim for liver disorder is being remanded as it may be secondary to his bladder disorder.,The Veteran's claim for erectile dysfunction (ED) is being remanded because it may be caused by his hypertension or lumbar strain.,The Veteran's claim for kidney disorder is being remanded due to its potential relation to his hypertension and bladder disorder.,The Veteran's claim for bladder disorder is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding whether the condition was related to service or secondary to a bladder disorder.,The Veteran's claim for sleep disorder is being remanded because it may be related to his bladder disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for allergic rhinitis and hypertension is denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service in Vietnam and his exposure to herbicides. The VA is instructed to verify the Veteran’s service in Vietnam, provide a medical opinion on whether hypertension was related to service, including potential herbicide exposure, and include all relevant records in the claims file.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be secondary to her service-connected PTSD.,PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension, secondary to PTSD, depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, or medications taken for those conditions, has been reopened and remanded.,The Veteran's claim for seizure disorder remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.,Left ear hearing loss is rated at 0 percent effective May 20, 2014. The issue of an earlier effective date is remanded.,Diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent and the Veteran's request for a higher rating remains denied.,PTSD, depressive disorder, sleep disorder, coronary artery disease, hypertension (secondary to PTSD, depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, or medications taken for those conditions), acid reflux (secondary to PTSD, depressive disorder, or diabetes mellitus), and erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD, depressive disorder, or diabetes mellitus) are all remanded.,The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for left ear hearing loss is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee arthritis was denied, but his hypertension was granted. The decision is mixed as it reopened the right knee arthritis claim and granted hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and lumbar spine disability require the aid and attendance of another person for daily activities, including protection from hazards, dressing, undressing, keeping clean, and attending to personal needs. Special monthly compensation on account of need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral shin bone disorder, right big toe arthritis, hypertension (claimed as high cholesterol), eye disorder, sickle cell trait, and skin disorders. The evidence did not support the claims based on direct service connection.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, and a rating of 60 percent for dyshidrotic eczema is granted effective from the date of the decision. Other service connection claims are denied.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD that meets the DSM criteria for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including neck disability, right and left knee disabilities, tinnitus, systemic arterial hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), kidney stones, and a skin condition on scalp. The reasons include unclear relationships to service due to conflicting statements from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as the effective date cannot be earlier than December 17, 2002 due to lack of entitlement prior to that date. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU at any point during the appeal period and is only eligible for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder and remanded the issues of hypertension, right shoulder arthritis, surgical scars of the right shoulder, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted as the Veteran does not have a current disability that meets VA's definition of hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his hypertension and active military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for hypertension and a heart disability, as the medical opinions provided were inadequate.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions of hypertension, Sjogren’s syndrome, bilateral hip disability, neck disability, back disability, asthma, bilateral CTS, left knee disorder, and seizures are all granted. The claims for a bilateral shoulder disability, IBS, and TMJ syndrome have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, hypertension, and jungle rot have been denied.,Service connection for PTSD has been granted but the Veteran is seeking an increased rating.