Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional VA treatment records, scheduling appropriate examinations, and readjudicating the issues on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of chronic hypertension during service and no medical opinion linking the condition to military service.

The Board has denied service connection for high cholesterol, heart disability (including as secondary to herbicide exposure), and hypertension (including as secondary to PTSD). The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal was denied because his notice of disagreement (NOD) with the August 2010 rating decision was not filed within one year of the decision, which is a requirement for timely filing an NOD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death, as they have no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeal.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for a VA opinion to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or any other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's death was caused by congestive heart failure, which is related to his service-connected hypertension. The Board has determined that the cause of death meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: hypertension, migraines, and PTSD. Further evaluations are needed for each condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, increased urinary frequency, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The earlier effective date for the grant of an increased evaluation for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, back disorder, hypertension (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), erectile dysfunction, chronic headache disorder, left and right lower extremity disorders, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete compliance with previous remands.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and hypertension have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The Board will attempt to obtain his missing service treatment records, provide him with VCAA notice if necessary, schedule VA examinations, and consider alternative sources of evidence.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for service connection of peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and diabetes are not earlier than July 19, 2016. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide a VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of May 16, 2008. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability since at least May 16, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD is granted. The claim for TDIU benefits due to service-connected disabilities is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability, including cardiomegaly and atrial fibrillation, is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service or his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for COPD is granted. The claims for service connection for COPD and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions on etiology.

The Board has granted reconsideration of the claim for service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the claim for hypertension. The Veteran's current right knee disability is presumed to have arisen in service, while his hypertension is presumed to have existed prior to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of her PTSD with depression due to a lack of VA medical opinions addressing the etiology of her claimed conditions, including sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran also had service in Southwest Asia.