Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has dismissed the appellant's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus as he withdrew his appeals on these issues.,The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, but the specific diagnosis of PTSD or MDD must be determined through a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including tinnitus, hypertension, Raynaud's phenomenon with complex regional pain syndrome, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and major depressive disorder (psychiatric disability), and erectile dysfunction. The decision also remanded several issues related to left leg disability, sleep apnea, urinary incontinence, and TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension and headaches are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has ordered a remand to assess the current severity of his hypertension.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes and other nonservice-connected disabilities. The claim for a bilateral ear disability, otitis media and recurrent tinnitus, is remanded.

The Veteran's right and left knee braces are not service-connected disabilities, so he is not eligible for a clothing allowance.,The Veteran’s low back brace was found to not cause wear and tear on his clothing based on the VHA Handbook 1173.15.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The cases for back, reflux, migraine headaches, and bilateral hand numbness are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right wrist disorder, OSA, HTN, and lumbar disc disease has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims are granted.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection for neurobehavioral effects, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is denied. The Board finds the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of a neurobehavior disorder throughout the appeals period.

The Veteran's hypertension and skin disability have been granted initial ratings. The right knee, left finger, and sleep apnea disorders are all remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's hypertension diagnosis was based on her self-reporting or findings by a VA examiner. A VA examination is needed to determine if the hypertension is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's hypertension is not considered to have been caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted the request to reopen the claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension have been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peroneal nerve impingement/peripheral neuropathy due to potential secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the disabilities did not manifest within one year after separation from service. The claim for diabetes mellitus was also denied due to lack of a diagnosis before separation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, hypertension (to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II), and sleep apnea due to incomplete opinions in his service connection examinations.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for sarcoidosis and hypertension due to herbicide exposure is granted. Service connection for OSA due to herbicide exposure is denied. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to consider updated evidence regarding the relationship between hypertension and exposure to herbicide agents, as the Veteran's claim for service connection in this regard is now considered new and material.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate rationale in the VA examiner's opinions and the need for further development of evidence, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and peripheral neuropathy.

Service connection is granted for low back and cervical spine conditions.,A 10 percent rating is granted for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension was denied, and his claim for service connection for headaches was remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.