Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected PTSD, but denied service connection for a neck disability due to lack of evidence linking it to military service or the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain.

This decision denies the Veteran's claims of service connection for left eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and tinnitus. The claim for left eye disorder is denied as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,This decision also denies the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension. The Veteran does not have a current disability that meets VA criteria for hearing loss or hypertension, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to military service.,The tinnitus claim is denied as the Veteran is already receiving the maximum schedular rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for hypertension and kidney disease, as well as the claim for TDIU due to the need for additional development. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed again with a new VA examination to determine its relationship to his service, while his kidney disease will be evaluated in conjunction with this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, low back disability, bilateral hip condition, obstructive sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction was granted. Service connection is established for PTSD with a rating of 70 percent effective from April 9, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, vision disability (cataracts), and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is remanded.,A TDIU application has been raised by the record.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities.,The Board has also remanded several issues, including service connection for a right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder other than GERD, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his time at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's appeal for separate 10 percent evaluations for bilateral tinnitus was denied. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence.

The case is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature of the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and several other conditions. Additional development is required to determine whether the Veteran served on land in Vietnam, which could impact his service connection claims.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased rating of hypertension, secondary service connection for diabetes and chronic renal disease due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted, but the issues of service connection for hypertension (secondary to diabetes mellitus type II) and remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back injury, ALS, bilateral hip disability, hypertension, and tremors due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including left shoulder, right shoulder, tinnitus, respiratory disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, and headache disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The prostate disorder, including prostatitis and voiding dysfunction, is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has ordered further development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia, increased rating for schizophrenia, and secondary service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran is also seeking a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disorders.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to incomplete or unclear evidence, including a need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for duodenal ulcer and hypertension, as well as the issue of an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for GERD. The Veteran's claim for service connection for duodenal ulcer is reopened due to new evidence showing a duodenal bulb ulceration from November 2010 EGD. However, his claim for hypertension remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records, particularly from the Veteran's National Guard service and his active duty periods. The case will be returned after further development.

The Veteran's hypertension was not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, by systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or with a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more who requires continuous medication for control. As such, the Veteran is denied an initial compensable rating for hypertension.