Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including whether they are related to service or other factors.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for erectile dysfunction is denied as the evidence does not show penis deformity.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for an eye disability (bilateral cataracts) and hypertension, both related to diabetes mellitus. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, congestive heart failure due to hypertension, is related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. As such, the claim for DIC benefits based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for high cholesterol, PTSD, left carpal tunnel syndrome, scar from cesarean sections, hysterectomy, left oophorectomy, tinnitus, pelvic pain after childbirth, right shoulder dislocation, rhinitis and sinusitis (claimed as allergies), bilateral plantar fasciitis, hypertension, eczema, lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and severe alopecia (claimed as cicatrical scarring alopecia) for additional development to verify service records.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD), leukemia, COPD, AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder, urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, renal artery stenosis, peripheral neuropathy, cervical spine disability, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is required to attend VA examinations for these issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, as well as his claim for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral pes planus. The VA will be required to provide a new examination and obtain an opinion regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for BPH was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his active duty. The claim for TDIU prior to August 12, 2017 was granted due to the combined rating of at least 70 percent and multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.,Service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and hypertensive heart disease. The claims are being remanded for a VA examination and for the RO to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's hypertension disability is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not indicate diastolic pressure predominantly greater than 110 or systolic pressure greater than 200 to warrant a higher rating, and thus denied an increase in rating.

The Veteran's right and left knee strains are granted with a 20% rating each. Service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to determine if his heart disabilities and hypertension are related to service, including considering whether he was exposed to herbicides during service. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not considered presumptively service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it manifested within a year of discharge.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board finds the Veteran's hypertension may be related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents, such as Agent Orange. Service connection for hearing loss remains remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not related to her service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated under Diagnostic Code 7101. The Board finds that a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, prior to May 21, 2019, is not warranted. A claim for TDIU is raised by the record as part of the above increased rating claim and is remanded.

The Veteran's tinea pedis is rated at 0 percent and hypertension is remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's hypertension and sleep apnea have been granted service connection, with a 10% rating for hypertension.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and remanded the hypertension claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied due to lack of evidence of in-service incidence or current disability. The Board found new and relevant evidence since the last decision, warranting readjudication.,For irritable bowel syndrome, the Veteran's lay statements about in-service symptoms were not considered by the VA examiner, who concluded that there is less than a 50% probability that IBS was incurred during service.