Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus are remanded for further development.,Service connection for anxiety disorder (including PTSD) is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, increased rating for post-discectomy L5-S1, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The issues include service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II or herbicide exposure, an increased rating for post-discectomy L5-S1, a compensable rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to determine if the Veteran's hypertension and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension due to outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran needs to provide these records, and a VA examination is required to determine if his conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew all claims currently on appeal, including those related to coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, and peripheral vascular diseases of the lower extremities. The appeals were dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability was reopened and granted, with an initial rating of 50 percent.,Service connection for depressive disorder NOS was also granted, but the Veteran is not entitled to a higher initial rating or earlier effective date.

The claims for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder, sinus disability, hypertension, and chronic headache disability are granted. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence regarding in-service exposure and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for hypertension, left knee disorder, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and hypertension due to unresolved issues regarding potential herbicide exposure. The Veteran's military service on USS St. Paul is also under review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for headaches, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for service-connected headaches. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right achilles tendon disability and hypertension are denied initial compensable ratings.,The Veteran's cervical spondylosis with left upper extremity radiculopathy, sciatica, lumbosacral strain, left knee patellar tendonitis (left knee disability), and chronic cough not related to asthma or seasonal allergic rhinitis (chronic cough) are remanded for further review.,The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spondylosis with left upper extremity radiculopathy, sciatica, lumbosacral strain, left knee patellar tendonitis (left knee disability), and chronic cough not related to asthma or seasonal allergic rhinitis (chronic cough) are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is rated at 10 percent, effective May 27, 2016. The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating due to consistently high blood pressure readings.

The Veteran's bilateral knee pain, ankle pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome were not shown to have begun during service or be related to in-service injury or disease.,Hypercholesterolemia is a laboratory finding without underlying disability. The claim for this condition is denied.,Hypertension was not shown within the first post-service year and there is no evidence of its onset during service. The claim is denied.,Dyspnea (shortness of breath) was not shown within the first post-service year and there is no evidence of its onset during service. The claim is denied.,The Veteran's heart disabilities were not shown to have begun during service or be related to in-service injury or disease. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and right arm edema were denied. Service connection was granted for a headache disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to concerns about causation and aggravation of his conditions by VA treatment, particularly regarding ascites caused or aggravated by Hepatitis C with PegInterferon.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and schizophrenia and an anxiety disorder (other than PTSD). The earlier effective date claims for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities were not addressed in the decision.,There is no indication of a link between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, rheumatoid arthritis, tinnitus, hypertension, beriberi, and irritable bowel syndrome are denied as there is no recognized period of active military service during which these conditions could have been incurred or aggravated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board found that his osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II as due to exposure to herbicides in the Korean DMZ are denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or exposure to herbicides.