Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for emergency treatment at St. Vincent’s Medical Center are granted as the condition was of such nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in obtaining treatment to be hazardous, and using the nearest VA facility would not have been considered reasonable.

The Board denied service connection for diplopia and hypertension, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, endometriosis, pulmonary embolism (claimed as blood clots), an acquired psychiatric disorder, ulcers, hypertension, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to inextricably intertwined issues.,The Board also ordered a new VA examination to determine if any of the Veteran’s current acquired psychiatric diagnoses are related to service or if they are aggravated by her existing conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted. The ratings for his PTSD and peripheral neuropathy have been established, with some adjustments based on when they began.

The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for gout is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for lumbar spine disability is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a disability claimed as 'arthritis throughout most of body' is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for asthma is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed and claimed as PTSD, is granted.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, hypertension, back disorder, asthma, and skin disorder on a presumptive basis due to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, DDD of the lumbosacral spine, and right leg arthritis as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There is no medical evidence linking any of these conditions to the Veteran's active duty period from June 1973 to July 1975.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension as there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current diagnosis and his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The condition did not manifest within one year after discharge from service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence received, including private treatment records from Archbold Medical Center. The matter is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records from Holly Hill Nursing Home and providing a VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and remanded the issues of increased ratings for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus (diabetes), and TDIU. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and hemorrhoids are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's service records indicate he served on board USS Enterprise but not in Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent. The Board finds a 40 percent rating is warranted for his diabetes mellitus as he requires insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for sarcoidosis and remanded the issues of service connection for respiratory disorder (fibrosis and COPD) and hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension as related to herbicide exposure. Service connection was denied for lung disease and kidney disease due to lack of current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, kidney condition (claimed as kidney stones), and acquired psychiatric disability were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as SSA records. The AOJ is instructed to secure the Veteran’s complete service personnel records and any in-service mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the permanent loss of use of his feet, meeting the eligibility criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations and service connection, except for the claim seeking to reopen a claim for glaucoma (also claimed as cataracts). The other claims have been dismissed due to withdrawal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of hypertension is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional evidence. The Veteran's reported stressor of a rocket attack on an air traffic control tower in Da Nang is under review, as are his diagnoses of PTSD, depressive disorder, congestive heart failure, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and type II diabetes mellitus.