Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for vision loss was dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal.,Service connection for hypertension is granted based on a presumption of service connection due to its association with active duty.

The Veteran's death was caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and the Board has determined that his exposure to herbicides while serving on the USS Kawishiwi qualifies him for presumptive service connection. The appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant’s income and expenses.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from March 9, 2017. The appeal for higher ratings on other conditions and earlier effective dates are pending.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for acid reflux, sinus disability, and hypertension secondary to service-connected knee and ankle disabilities. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea secondary to panic disorder with agoraphobia and hypertension, was granted. The appeals for the remaining issues were either denied or remanded.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his congestive heart failure, hypertension and renal failure did not begin during service or were caused by service. The appeal was also denied on direct service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension may be related to his service and remands the case for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to and/or aggravated by his multiple service-connected squamous cell carcinoma related disabilities, resulting in a grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, elbow, foot/toes numbness, wrist, knee, ankle, eye, vertigo, breathing difficulties, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's hypertension and ischemic heart disease are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for elevated cholesterol due to the absence of a current disability. The remaining issues (epilepsy, acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, tinnitus, and low back disability) are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and hearing loss have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of relevant medical records.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and headache disability is granted. The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation of tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned. The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that there is a link between his PTSD and the development of these headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia. The issues of service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, as well as TDIU, are remanded.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for January 18, 2013 were denied as the treatment was not in an emergency situation and VA facilities were feasibly available.

Major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension and migraine headaches have been granted service connection.,An increased rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. An effective date prior to September 8, 2013 for service connection for tinnitus is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus. The issue of service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and an acquired psychiatric disability as the evidence did not support a direct relationship to active service.