Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a non-VA hospitalization for hypertension, chest pain, and GERD are now covered by VA.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis status post-surgery is granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective from the entire appeal period. The Veteran’s benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and hypertension are denied evaluations greater than 10 percent. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity (prior to October 15, 2018) is granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective from that date. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity (prior to October 15, 2018) and unspecified anxiety disorder with other specified insomnia are denied evaluations greater than 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, hypercholesterolemia, erectile dysfunction, neurogenic bladder, hypertension, and bilateral eye disability. The decision found no evidence of herbicide exposure or actual exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and denied a request for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of sleep apnea. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be related to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, and there is no evidence that he had hypertension within one year after discharge from service. The effective date for the 50% rating for sleep apnea was set at April 20, 2015.

The appeal for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity is dismissed. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and hypertension (HTN) due to a lack of an SOC addressing the cervical spine claim. The VA is directed to issue an SOC on this matter and obtain all relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The Veteran's hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD), asbestosis, residuals of a circumcision (including erectile dysfunction), and sinusitis are all on appeal.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the increased rating for hypertension before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been reopened. The Board has found new and material evidence to warrant reopening the claims. However, further development is needed due to conflicting exposure assertions and lack of supporting evidence.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder degenerative changes, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and right leg sciatic condition and peripheral neuropathy (claimed as right leg nerve damage) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.,Agent Orange exposure is conceded, but there is no evidence that peripheral neuropathy was diagnosed within one year after discharge from service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for a low back disorder, high blood pressure, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. The claims are remanded for further development regarding these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to his service. The claim for mood disorder was reopened due to new evidence showing the onset of mental health issues during service.,Service connection for hypertension, skin cancer, and mood disorders were all denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, to include as secondary to obstructive sleep apnea. The issues are being remanded due to a lack of VA treatment records and an incomplete medical opinion regarding the etiology of the conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure, a compensable rating for asthma, and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The remand requests additional VA medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran’s hypertension and herbicide exposure in Vietnam, as well as the severity of his asthma.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and Tinea cruris, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam service.,The claims for obstructive sleep apnea, hepatitis, sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction), and sleep dysfunction (insomnia) have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, respiratory disability, and hypertension due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) because previous medical opinions are inadequate. The Veteran's service connection claims have been remanded several times for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for left knee disability and a higher rating, as well as his claim for hypertension. The case is remanded to issue a statement of the case on the hypertension claim.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ulcers due to lack of evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within a year of separation, and is not otherwise linked to disease or injury incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for hypertension is denied.