Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder aggravated his hypertension and/or heart condition, which may have contributed to his cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected varicose veins caused or aggravated his hypertension, which in turn contributed to his death. The VA must obtain a new opinion on this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete opinions and lack of consideration of certain evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and erectile dysfunction due to insufficient medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was granted. The claims of service connection for cardiac disability and hypertension were denied.,A 100% rating for chronic fatigue syndrome is granted from March 5, 2013 through October 28, 2014.

The Veteran's high cholesterol was not found to be a disability for VA compensation purposes.,Diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands and feet were not service-connected as they did not manifest during active service or within one year of separation, nor are they causally related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for hypertension and right eye disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is granted. His coronary artery disease, with hypertension and diabetic nephropathy, is rated at 30 percent effective August 31, 2010. A separate compensable rating for his hypertension is denied. The award of service connection for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is granted, but a separate initial rating prior to December 11, 2012, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity is denied. A compensable initial rating for diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity is also denied.

The Veteran's scleroderma and related conditions are granted service connection.,The Veteran's basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and actinic keratosis are also granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine was denied due to lack of evidence showing a link between his current condition and military service. The claim for PTSD has been reopened, but not granted as there is no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred.,The Veteran's claims for left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, conjunctivitis, sinusitis, tinea pedis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were all denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred during or related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disability and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's death was caused by poorly differentiated bladder carcinoma, but there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents or a direct link to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and left foot residuals due to a gunshot wound. A new VA opinion is needed regarding whether his congestive heart failure qualifies as ischemic heart disease, and whether his hypertension may be related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to coronary artery disease was granted on a presumptive basis based on exposure to Agent Orange. The effective date is set at March 20, 2015, with the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease. Other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease was denied as there is no evidence of an IHD during his period of active duty.,His diabetes mellitus, type II, was rated at the lowest possible level (10%) due to its current management and lack of complications requiring hospitalization or special dietary needs.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and the need for medical opinions. The appellant's claim is also pending as service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, back disability, bilateral knee disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, seizure disorder, and thyroid disability. The effective dates for these decisions are not specified.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its onset and relationship to her service-connected PTSD, migraine headaches, and medications.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of low back pain, DMII, blurred vision secondary to DMII, hypertension secondary to DMII, erectile dysfunction secondary to DMII, nocturia secondary to DMII, and migraines. The right ankle disability was also denied a higher rating.