Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee DJD, migraines, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, hypertension, and hearing loss, prevented him from securing or following any form of substantially gainful employment prior to February 12, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease, as these claims involve new evidence not previously considered.

The Board has remanded the claims for colorectal cancer, pulmonary hypertension, and mitral valve prolapse due to inadequate development and lack of proper consideration of factors related to ionizing radiation exposure. The Veteran will need a VA examination and an addendum opinion from the Chief Public Health and Environmental Hazards Officer.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records related to the Veteran's death and service-connected conditions. The issues of service connection for a right foot condition and low back condition are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues on appeal due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a lumbosacral spine disability, cervical spine disability, hearing loss of the left ear, hypertension, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are being remanded due to incomplete information.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, PTSD, and hearing loss of the right ear are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues with proper representation and notification, and will need to review the claim again from the beginning.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. The remaining issues of service connection for a cervical condition, bilateral medial brachium condition, and upper extremity nerve disorders, as well as OSA are remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Meniere’s Disease, lower back disorder to include lumbar spondylosis and HNP, hypertension, and PTSD are all granted. The effective date is set at January 22, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right wrist and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of ankylosis or diastolic pressure of predominantly 110 or more, or systolic pressure of predominantly 200 or more. As a result, the Veteran's current ratings of 10 percent for both conditions are maintained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (ED), and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD due to insufficient evidence of record. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative joint disease, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, coronary artery disease, benign prostatic hyperplasia, status post penis carcinoma, and right shoulder status post lipoma. The claims are based on direct service connection rather than presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of low back condition, bilateral foot condition, hypertension, bilateral arm neurological conditions, and bilateral leg neurological conditions have been dismissed. The Veteran's claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted. The claims for skin disability and left shoulder disability are denied. Hypertension remains under review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted for cataracts due to diabetes mellitus. The Board also found that the Veteran's headache disability is related to his active service, but remanded other issues including sinusitis, emphysema, COPD, gallbladder condition, Crohn’s disease, pancreatitis, acid reflux, stroke residuals, arthritis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spine, diabetic retinopathy, tinnitus, hypertension, peripheral vascular/arterial disease (PVD/PAD) of both lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's back and hip disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to the November 2018 NAS report finding sufficient evidence of association with herbicide exposure.,A disability rating greater than 50 percent for PTSD is remanded.,,

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted service connection as it was first diagnosed after separation from active duty. The Veteran's intermittent diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome) is currently rated at a 10% disability rating.,Service connection for hypertension remains pending and will be remanded to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The effective date remains pending as the RO has not addressed this issue in its decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, sleep disorder, and hypertension have all been denied.,There is no evidence of any in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, hypertension, GERD, and erectile dysfunction. The effective date for DEA benefits is set at May 16, 2016.