Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to continuous symptoms since service and the presumption of continuity applies.,The Veteran's sinusitis claim is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating for DJD, DDD, and mild scoliosis of the thoracic and lumbar spine was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied. Service connection for a cervical spine disorder, cardiovascular disorder (specifically congenital bicuspid aortic valve with insufficiency heart murmur), hypertension, IBS, umbilical hernia, and prostatitis was granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension is denied as his blood pressure readings have not consistently met the criteria for a 10% evaluation under DC 7101.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have right ear hearing loss, hypertension, vision condition (due to refractive error), psychiatric condition, cervical spine condition, left shoulder condition, or right shoulder condition during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck and back disabilities, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the claims of service connection for hypertension and a bilateral foot disability, as well as the TDIU claim. The Veteran's current diagnoses are being reviewed to determine if they are related to his active duty service or any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for colon cancer, earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and an earlier effective date for a 40% rating for bilateral hearing loss have been withdrawn.,The claim for reopening of a previously denied claim of service connection for asthma has been granted. The claim for reopening of a previously denied claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder has also been granted.,Service connection for hypertension has been granted.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran's heart disability and hypertension are related to his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, hypertension, neck condition, low back condition, COPD, and GERD. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, heart disorders, kidney disorders, and right eye disorders as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The Veteran's alleged exposure is at Takhli Air Force Base in Thailand and U-Tapao Air Force Base in Thailand, as well as CCK Air Base in Taiwan.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 26, 2012. The Board has remanded the case for referral to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration of a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Lyme disease is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,Service connection for Graves’ disease or thyroid disability is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis and no evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 0% since August 26, 2014. The claim for a higher rating is remanded as there is no new evidence of worsening since the last examination.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD remains December 5, 2013 due to lack of earlier entitlement.,Service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD and tinnitus is remanded as a medical opinion is needed to determine if it began in service or is related to these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for type 2 diabetes is remanded as a medical opinion is needed to determine the nature of his condition.,Service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy secondary to type 2 diabetes is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion on the relationship between the conditions.,Service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy secondary to type 2 diabetes is also remanded for similar reasons.

The Veteran's initial rating for hypertension was denied as his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD due to insufficient medical opinions regarding causation or aggravation.

The Veteran's hypertension requires continuous medication, but his diastolic pressure has been predominantly less than 100 and systolic pressure has been predominantly less than 160. The Board denied a compensable rating for hypertension as the criteria were not met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease (DJD) and hypertension, and a TDIU claim due to inadequate examinations and missing personnel records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and muscle weakness as there is no credible evidence of an in-service disease or injury that could be related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was reopened and granted.,Service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to PTSD and/or diagnosed hypertension, was also granted.