Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to aggravate his current diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, and the Board grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his military service and granted. The claims for hypertension and stroke are remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, tinnitus, and hypertension. The claims were based on direct evidence of the conditions in question.

The Board has determined that the claims for hepatitis C, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), hypertension, edema, loss of vision, rheumatoid arthritis, and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) are inextricably intertwined due to the relationship between these conditions and hepatitis C. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension were remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on several service-connected conditions has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, prostate cancer (due to herbicide exposure), and sarcoidosis (due to herbicide exposure) as they are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's nosebleeds are considered the result of a congenital defect and not service-connected. His hypertension is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet his request for an increased rating. His erectile dysfunction is currently rated as noncompensable due to its being related to medication use. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus remains at 50 percent despite the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current hypertension condition, and for obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and alcohol and drug use disorder, as well as for an earlier effective date than August 9, 2013.

The appeal to reopen service connection for PTSD was granted, along with other claims related to various disabilities. The effective date remains pending as it is not specified in the decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, liver disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are remanded.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is granted as it had its onset during service.,The Veteran's hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability within one year post-service and the condition was not noted in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot disability, right foot disability, hypertension, heart disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and MDD. The decision also noted that the Veteran was granted service connection for migraines and RLE radiculopathy effective August 22, 2014.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder. The claims of service connection for hypertension, diverticulosis, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as coronary artery disease, due to hypertension and COPD. The Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70% after October 25, 2016. She also received a TDIU effective from August 1, 2009.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and hypertension are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of his hypertension, which may be related to herbicide exposure in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension with nephropathy has been reopened and granted. The claims of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include heart disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disorders.