Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, and will be reconsidered after further review.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension due to new evidence received since the 1994 denial. The claims for malaria, gallbladder condition, pancreatitis, and diabetes mellitus have all been denied as there is no current diagnosis or credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran withdrew his service connection claims and the claim for special monthly compensation before a decision was made.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability including anxiety disorder and PTSD. The hypertension claim was denied.,Service connection is established for radiculopathy and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, osteoarthritis of the lower back and bilateral hips, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of sufficient medical evidence.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his gastrointestinal disorder (other than GERD) had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service, as well as whether it was caused by or aggravated by PTSD and/or medications for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ear disability as secondary to service-connected hearing loss in the left ear, but has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Veteran died in September 2015 due to congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension. The appellant was reimbursed $2,189.44 for funeral expenses but is seeking additional reimbursement of unreimbursed medical expenses. The Board denied the claim as there is no evidence that these expenses were related to the Veteran's last illness.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for a heart disability and hypertension is granted. The remanded issues of service connection for a heart disability and hypertension are also addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The claim for Hepatitis C was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, while the PTSD claim resulted in a 70% disability rating effective October 19, 2011.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension are service-connected due to exposure to herbicides during active service. However, the remaining claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, bladder cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for eardrum damage, bilateral knee condition, stomach ulcers, and hemorrhoids have all been denied as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, radiculopathy, right lower extremity, a right bicep/arm condition, and high blood pressure have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection has not been granted for migraine headaches as there is no direct or secondary evidence linking them to service.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the Veteran's hypertension, maxillary sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis to determine their current severity. The appeal is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, tinnitus, heart disability, hypertension, peripheral artery disease (left lower extremity), peripheral artery disease (right lower extremity), and stroke residuals were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection was also denied for an initial compensable rating for surgical scars of the posterior torso and effective dates prior to specific dates for various service connection awards.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Service connection claims for a low back condition, hysterectomy, migraine headaches, PTSD, and hypertension remain pending.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability. None of the conditions noted on his death certificate as contributing to his death were service connected, and no evidence links these conditions with service.

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 Board denied the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, granted the claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, and dismissed the claim for hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a possible worsening of the Veteran's hypertension since his last VA examination, and additional development is required.