Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hip disability, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, pelvic disability, headaches, and depression. The decision also remanded issues related to a rating increase for epilepsy and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale provided in a previous VA opinion regarding his hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depressive disorder. The claims for hypertension and neck disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, abdominal aortic aneurysm, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, left knee arthritis with left leg shin splints, and right knee arthritis with right leg shin splints. The Veteran will be provided additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart condition that resulted in his death, specifically whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s heart condition was either caused by or aggravated by his service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including a chronic back condition, hypertension, diverticulitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastrointestinal polyps, hemorrhoids, constipation, urinary retention, and anemia. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of onset in service or relationship to service.

The Veteran's right knee gout was granted a disability rating of 60 percent effective January 11, 2018. His hypertension and hepatitis B were both granted increased ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis, a muscle disorder, a respiratory disorder, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. Service connection for a left hip disability is denied.

The Board dismissed appeals for higher ratings for left shoulder strain and the residuals of left knee arthroplasty. The claim for service connection for hypertension was granted, but the right shoulder disability and lumbar spine disability were denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, headaches, and sinus disorder. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was granted a 50% rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease, was not incurred in service and is not related to any in-service injury or illness.,Hypertension was not caused by the Veteran's military service. The examiner noted a significant time gap between separation from service and initial diagnosis of hypertension.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the functional impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability, and for obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for exercise-induced anaphylaxis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded the hypertension claim due to insufficient evidence of Gulf War exposure. The undiagnosed illness claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as it is neither proximately due to nor aggravated by diabetes mellitus type 2, and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran’s back disorder is remanded for further development of evidence regarding in-service and post-service pain.,The Veteran’s left ankle disorder is remanded for a medical opinion addressing his reports of ankle pain following service.,The Veteran’s right ankle disorder is remanded for a medical opinion addressing the relationship between favoring his left ankle and his current right ankle disorder.,The Veteran’s tuberculosis claim requires a VA examination to determine if it may be related to in-service treatment at Fort Polk, Louisiana.,The Veteran’s skin disorder is remanded for an addendum opinion addressing whether his lay statements of continued symptoms since service are supported by medical evidence.,The Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and adjustment disorder with depressed mood) is remanded for a medical opinion regarding the possibility of prior diagnoses related to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 rating claim is remanded for assignment of an effective date prior to March 14, 2006.,The Veteran’s peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded for initial ratings and effective dates.,The Veteran’s back examination will include assessment of any neuropathy symptoms related to the back.

The Board has vacated the June 1, 2018 denial of service connection for various conditions and initial ratings. The Veteran's claims are now considered granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including arthritis, left wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, malaria, sleep disorder, hypertension, rashes, diabetes, stroke, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression).