Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The claim for service connection for cause of death is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's esophageal cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension was first diagnosed within one year of separation from service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied an initial compensable rating based on insufficient evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted on an extraschedular basis.,For the period from March 7, 2012, to November 30, 2017, his acquired psychiatric disability was evaluated as 50 percent disabling. The Board found that this level of impairment did not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating (such as 70% or 100%) and thus denied an increased evaluation.,The Veteran's arthritis conditions were remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether they are service-connected.,Service connection was granted for headaches secondary to tinnitus.,Other claims, including those related to sleep disability, hypertension, skin condition, diabetes mellitus, special monthly compensation, and TDIU, were also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, low back, left hip, right hip, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's current disabilities are not considered the result of an August 1972 motor vehicle accident.,Service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus has also been denied as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand during the Veteran's period of active duty.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various eye and hip/knee disorders, as well as increased ratings for sleep apnea and left knee disabilities. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues due to inadequate substantive appeals.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD service connection is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran has hypertension, but remands to obtain a medical opinion on whether it is related to herbicide exposure or his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted TDIU effective January 12, 2009. The claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The effective date of the award of service connection for hypertension is denied as it does not meet the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.104.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for vision problems, fatigue, COPD, degenerative disc disease, headaches, and neurobehavioral effects including trouble relaxing and short tempered have been dismissed. The appeal for TDIU is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for ulcers, left knee condition, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, left wrist condition, and migraines due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, renal cancer, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction due to in-service herbicide exposure. The reasons include new findings by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine regarding a possible association between hypertension and Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the TDIU claim due to its inextricability from the hypertension claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities, which render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's migraines, as the previous opinions were inadequate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death due to dementia, renal cell carcinoma, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and pneumonia. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease and ocular hypertension as secondary to ischemic heart disease due to potential in-service exposure, but no specific evidence or basis is provided.