Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and arguments presented by the Veteran's representative, specifically regarding whether his service-connected prostate cancer and PTSD may have caused or aggravated his hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bicuspid aortic valve is remanded due to the AOJ's full grant of that benefit in the January 1988 rating decision. The case will be referred to an examiner for additional medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his bicuspid aortic valve.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA attempts to obtain relevant SSA and private medical records, including from the University of MS Medical Center. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Veteran's hypertension prior to June 9, 2016 was not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more. From June 9, 2016, the disability combined with diabetic nephropathy resulted in a 30 percent rating effective from that date. The Veteran's hypertension did not meet criteria for a separate compensable rating from August 4, 2016.

All claims seeking to reopen previously denied service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and noncompensable disability ratings, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the original rating decision.

The Veteran's hypertension has not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or; systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more. The Board finds that the Veteran’s disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation and denies entitlement to a compensable rating.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The claims for right ear hearing loss, left elbow and wrist disabilities, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, melanoma, and upper extremity carpal tunnel syndromes are all denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. The Board finds that he meets the criterion for aid and attendance benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected depression and bilateral shoulder disabilities, but denied service connection for hypertension. The Veteran is currently rated at 10% for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pulmonary arterial hypertension, finding that it is neither proximately due to nor aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and did not manifest within one year of service discharge.

The appeal for service connection for high cholesterol is dismissed. The claims of service connection for heart condition and hypertension, both due to in-service herbicide exposure, are remanded.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including diverticulitis, ventral hernia, and colon polyp, is not service-connected.,PTSD was not diagnosed in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and PTSD due to lack of a VA examination in some cases and insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, bilateral eye nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, status post coronary artery bypass with history of myocardial infarction, and skin cancer are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,The Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during his service on the USS Pictor. Therefore, he cannot establish service connection for any condition based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it began during service or was related to in-service conditions. Service connection for pilar cysts and neurofibroma is granted as the preponderance of evidence supports their development since service.

The Board has denied service connection for a left eye disability and remanded the claims of hypertension and right knee disability due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and potential misidentification of his periods of active duty, training, or inactive duty. The issues include gout, right eye disability (corneal abrasion), chest pain (GERD), hypertension, and polycystic kidney disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands and feet due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is seeking secondary service connection for these conditions, which are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.