Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's hypertension was not rated higher than 10% prior to June 6, 2019. From June 6, 2019, the rating for hypertension remains at 10%. The knee issues have been remanded.,The low back strain and IVDS issue has also been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions, including gout, hypertension, GERD and IBS, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right knee status post anterior cruciate ligament repair, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right lower extremity surgical scars. The Veteran contends that he should have higher initial ratings for these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous instructions and for an addendum opinion addressing a new theory of entitlement regarding the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, glaucoma, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) as there is no evidence of a direct causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals seeking revision of the March 1995 rating decision regarding hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, seborrheic dermatitis of the face and scalp, and right hand and wrist rash on the basis of CUE have been dismissed based on res judicata.

The Veteran is granted TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The case for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is remanded as the VA has not obtained all relevant private treatment records from Emory University.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for residuals of Agent Orange exposure, including peripheral neuropathy and tremors. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims for various conditions, as he did not timely file a substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the other issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma, but his psychiatric disability, COPD, and atopic allergic conjunctivitis with dry eyes are not yet determined.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to asbestos and potential service connection for respiratory condition, as well as further development of his heart disease, DM II, HTN, gout, and chronic low back pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left ankle disability, and right knee disability have been denied.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension and bladder cancer are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their relationship to service, particularly exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, respiratory disability (to include COPD and asthma), and ischemic heart disease have been reopened. The effective date of the grant of service connection for tinnitus is set to December 5, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD has been granted with a rating of 70 percent effective from June 26, 2007.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within one year post-service, and the medical opinion found it unrelated to military service.,A non-compensable evaluation for the left 3rd finger scar from ganglion cyst excision was granted effective December 8, 2009. The Veteran's current evaluation is 10 percent after this date.,The Veteran's request for a higher evaluation for his left 3rd finger scar from ganglion cyst excision has been denied as the medical opinion found it unrelated to service and not more than 10 percent disabling overall.,A compensable evaluation (at least 20 percent) for the Veteran's left eye pterygium was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, CVA, and acute renal failure as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension was denied in May 2017, and the appeal is now denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within one year post-service.,The Veteran's left ankle injury is not considered to have manifested during service. The claim is therefore denied.,There is insufficient evidence linking the Veteran’s unspecified anxiety disorder (including PTSD) to his military service. Service connection for this condition is also denied.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and left ankle injury claims remain denied.,The claim for tinnitus is granted as it began during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether hypertension is secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding his periods of active duty and inactive duty training. The claims are also inextricably intertwined with the claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).