Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. The claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected hypertension is remanded.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for CAD, hypertension, Crohn’s disease, and left femoral and saphenous nerve neuropathy have been denied. The effective date of service connection is February 1, 2013.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee disabilities, tinnitus, and hypertension with hypercholesterolemia were denied. The claim for bilateral knee disabilities was not granted due to lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms. Tinnitus was granted as incurred during active service. Hypertension with hypercholesterolemia remained denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his military service and may be secondary to his service-connected residuals of intracerebral hemorrhage with static encephalopathy with mixed OBS. However, an addendum opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.,The Veteran's CAD prior to April 12, 2017 is granted at a 30 percent evaluation. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for CAD after that date is dismissed.,A VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all remaining issues in the January 2018 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left flat foot, stomach/gastroesophageal disability, and a pulmonary/sleep disability.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for sleep apnea, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension due to insufficient examination reports.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II, finding no direct or secondary relationship to service. The Veteran's tinnitus and sleep apnea were also denied as not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, tinnitus, psychiatric condition (including anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD), sleep condition, and headaches are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension claim should be remanded for further action, and a new decision on his nonservice-connected pension benefits issue is also required.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding treatment records and that further examination is needed to address the Veteran's left eye vision disability. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back pain, neck pain, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and hypertension due to potential service connection based on a claimed in-service fall from an aircraft carrier deck.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, his hypertension and PTSD have not been found related to service or secondary to these conditions.,Service connection for hypertension was denied as there is no evidence that it manifested within one year of separation from service and there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that it is caused by PTSD.

The claim of service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for hypertension, glaucoma, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and hypertension, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and thus resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, hypertension, bilateral lower extremity deep vein thrombosis and/or peripheral neuropathy and/or peripheral vascular disease, and any acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and dysthymia), finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or illness related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's cardiovascular disabilities, including hypertension and ischemic heart disease, are related to service. The case will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for left hand arthritis and diabetes mellitus, type II are remanded for further development. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left leg radiculopathy, tinnitus, right knee scar, sleep apnea, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, chronic right and left leg disabilities to include blood clots, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, a left knee disorder, and right and left foot diabetic neuropathy have been denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial 70% rating for PTSD has been granted.