Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's blood pressure readings and the need for an addendum opinion addressing the significance of all diastolic blood pressure readings over 100 in determining whether such pressure was predominant at any time. The AOJ is also instructed to obtain a Director of Compensation Service addendum opinion regarding extraschedular rating considerations, specifically addressing the Veteran's claimed symptoms of headaches, dizziness, and dyspnea related to hypertension.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The claims for tinnitus, heart disability, hypertension, and prostate cancer are remanded for additional development.

The claim to reopen the previously denied OSA service connection is denied.,The claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD are remanded as new evidence has not been submitted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, 'back' disability, right ankle degenerative changes, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and migraine headaches. The claims are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, gout, residuals of meningitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, schizophrenia, memory loss and diminishing capacity), staph infection (to include various skin disorders), hypertension, loss of eyesight in one eye, residuals of frostbite, ingrown toenails, and loss of teeth, are not service-connected as they were not caused by or related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a prostate disability, migraine headaches, essential hypertension, and depression was denied. The Veteran's PTSD received an initial 100% rating prior to September 28, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pain disorder secondary to PTSD was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee strain secondary to IVDS was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus were denied. The claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus was reopened, but the service connection itself remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for left middle cerebral artery infarct and seizures as secondary to service-connected hypertension due to inadequate opinions regarding aggravation.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete consideration of additional evidence and failure to provide a Statement of the Case. The issues include service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, hypertension, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, cyst on the left side of the head, tumor on the left side of the neck, and diabetes mellitus, type II based upon substitution due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Veteran's claims for skin cancer, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, vertigo, dementia, depression, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus have been denied. The claim for right ear hearing loss has been granted with a 0% rating effective November 5, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including arthritis of multiple joints, diverticulitis, gallbladder removal, hemorrhoid removal, hypertension, heart disability, lung disability, polyp removal, and gastrointestinal disability, all claimed to be due to exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The evidence did not support a link between these disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for anemia and increased ratings for the service-connected left eye condition, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension has been dismissed. The Board also remanded her claim for a low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for hypertension because no new and material evidence was submitted, and the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an upper respiratory disorder was denied due to lack of causation by VA, and his claims for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, vitreous floaters, post-surgical hypothyroidism, acute abdominal pain, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, kidney condition, and heart condition have been granted. The Board found that the current presence of these conditions is related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition and remanded his claims for service connection for triple bypass surgery and hypertension.