Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating greater than 60 percent for chronic glomerulonephritis with hypertension has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral dry eye syndrome. The cases of hypertension, neurological disabilities of the right and left hands, and hyperthyroidism are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the condition pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service. The Veteran's attorney argued that the presumption of soundness should apply due to a prior high blood pressure reading before service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; prostate cancer; hypertension; respiratory disorder (to include asbestosis); and PTSD due to additional evidence being added to the record since previous decisions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and TDIU due to a lack of evidence showing the condition was incurred or aggravated by service, or related to any service-connected disability. The Veteran's current employment status did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension are currently rated as 30% and 10%, respectively. The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if higher ratings are warranted.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, consistent with his educational and occupational background.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability and therefore denied his claim. The hypertension issue was remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding its relationship to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for hypertension, gastrointestinal disability/acid reflux, and opioid-induced constipation are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The appeal on the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for gout is dismissed. The claims for generalized arthritis, bilateral eye disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including tinnitus, headaches, heart disability, hypertension, lumbar spine disability, bilateral flatfoot and plantar fasciitis, and residuals of a left ankle injury. The issues have been remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are found to be at least as likely as not the cause of his hypertension. The Veteran is also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic retinopathy, diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The current disability ratings are insufficient to reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the current severity of his lumbar degenerative joint disease, hypertension, and actinic keratoses. The issues include determining if systemic therapy has been required for his actinic keratoses.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not aggravated by service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck disability and heart disorder (hypertension) as there is no evidence that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension, OSA, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been granted service connection. A rating of 20 percent has been assigned for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence linking it to his military service or any service-connected disability.