Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service and was not diagnosed until after separation.,Hypertension did not manifest within one year of service discharge, and there is no evidence linking it to service.,There is no evidence of a TBI event during service or current residuals. The Veteran’s blacking out episodes are attributed to another cause.,Migraine headaches were not diagnosed until years after separation and do not have a clear link to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as there is no evidence showing in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension was not noted as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation or demonstrate continuity of symptomatology, and is not otherwise related to in-service elevated blood pressure readings. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol, hypertension, a left foot disability, a right hip disability, and a blood disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, asthma, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims were previously denied in March 2004.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for a thoracic spine condition. The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted service connection, but the issues of hypertension and an acquired psychiatric condition (depression) are remanded.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for ED and remanded the cases of diabetic nephropathy with hypertension and TDIU due to service-connected disorders. The Veteran's case is pending further examination and review.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of a higher rating due to limited motion.,The Veteran's residuals of fracture of the right radial head are currently rated as noncompensable. The VA examiner found no functional impairment and normal range of motion.,For status post right fibular fracture, the Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent from September 15, 2014 onwards. Prior to this date, the Veteran's disability was considered asymptomatic. After September 15, 2014, the VA examiner found moderate limited motion of the ankle.,The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spur is rated at 10 percent from May 11, 2015 to September 12, 2016. After this date, the disability is rated higher than 50 percent.,Hypertension is not service-connected and thus no rating is assigned.,Left ankle scars associated with status post left ankle open reduction internal fixation surgery are currently rated as noncompensable.,Surgical scar status post open reduction internal fixation right fibula fracture is also rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to locate the Veteran's service treatment records and provide proper notice. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as there is no probative medical evidence that indicates the hypertension disability caused or aggravated his current diabetes.,The Veteran's increased rating claim for hypertension since April 13, 2015, was denied due to lack of probative evidence showing worsening after the June 2015 VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for hypertension, glaucoma, and a back disability as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to any decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including VA treatment records from March 2018 and thereafter. The AOJ must review this evidence before readjudicating his claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants.

The Board found new and material evidence for some claims but denied them based on lack of service connection criteria, while others were granted due to reopening the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent rating already reflects the impact of his tinnitus.,An effective date prior to June 5, 2015, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is not warranted due to lack of a formal or informal written communication indicating intent to apply for this benefit prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, including exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange), and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's chronic headache disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. Service connection for the other conditions (left upper extremity, left eye, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction) is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of chronic prostatitis with nephropathy and hypertension, as well as a left hand and wrist disability, have been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her service connection claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has been granted. She is now entitled to these claims.,Service connection for a back disability, hypertension, migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, heart condition, bilateral hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus, left foot condition, and right foot condition are all denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot bone spurs, sleep impairment to include sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision found no current diagnoses or in-service events that would support these claims.