Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including those related to undiagnosed illnesses from Southwest Asia service, have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of qualifying chronic disability due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, while his hypertension was not shown to have manifested within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's GERD and genitourinary disability (prostate disorder) are also denied as they do not appear to be linked to service.,Service connection for the Veteran’s hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, GERD, and prostate disorder were all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for accrued benefits purposes for the claimed conditions of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, benign neoplasm of the cerebral meninges, hypertension, bilateral upper and lower peripheral neuropathy. The appellant withdrew her appeal prior to promulgation of a decision by the Board.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and adult onset diabetes. However, these claims are still pending as they need further development due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for pes planus was withdrawn. The claims for PTSD, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction were all denied due to lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed conditions.

The Board has vacated the March 29, 2019 decision and remanded several issues for further development. The Veteran's death preceded the March 29, 2019 decision, so jurisdiction was lacking at that time. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, eye disability, hypertension, kidney disease, and right arm and hand tingling are being remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability. The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tricuspid regurgitation with pulmonary hypertension is granted. The claims for upper respiratory disability and right ankle disability are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's appeals for service connection and increased rating claims related to gout, lumbar spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD), and hypertension. The claim for service connection of PTSD is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and review. The appeals are not related to service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected PTSD and presumed herbicide exposure. The examiner will need to provide an opinion on whether the hypertension is secondary to PTSD, caused by or aggravated by herbicide exposure, or both.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, hypertension, hypertensive retinopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy, and mixed sleep apnea are all related to his service-connected right knee disorder. The Board has also found that these conditions have caused or aggravated obesity in the Veteran, which is a significant factor in determining whether they can be considered secondary to his service-connected disability. As such, the Board has decided to remand these claims for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral knee disability, PTSD, and TDIU has been granted. The rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent, but the Veteran is now eligible for a higher 70 percent rating due to his employment difficulties caused by PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during its pendency.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and residuals of a stroke, as well as the TDIU rating claim, due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's representative provided additional evidence that was not considered in the previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to additional evidence being added to the file and potential exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran is asked to provide any missing records or authorization.

The appeals for initial compensable ratings for scars of the right knee and vaginitis, as well as service connection for GERD, anemia, and diabetes mellitus Type II have been dismissed. The appeals for increased rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral shin splints, right forearm condition, right wrist sprain, migraine headaches, pterygia (right eye condition), sinusitis, sleep apnea secondary to chronic bladder infection, hypertension, and right leg varicose veins are REMANDED.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral shoulder tendonitis, elbow tendonitis, and wrist tendonitis is denied.,Right ear hearing loss and sinusitis are remanded for further evaluation.,Hypertension is also remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected PTSD, but an additional VA examination is needed to determine if it is aggravated by PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for hypertension, benign prostate hypertrophy, a skin disability (presumably due to herbicide exposure), and psychosis or other mental illness for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 because the Veteran withdrew his appeal before the decision was made.