Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is dismissed. The issues of service connection for tachycardia, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's aortic aneurysm and its residuals are related to his military service, particularly considering the impact of his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right leg, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is denied because there is no current diagnosis and no evidence linking it to active service.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence that it began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

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

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, left hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, and right foot disabilities are remanded for further development. The Veteran's heart disorder, hypertension, and Parkinson's disease claims are also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. The respiratory disability and sleep apnea claims are remanded as new VA examinations are required.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for skin disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), and neurological disorder due to insufficient evidence or conflicting findings. The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any diagnosed conditions related to these issues.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension is denied as the condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is not related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's CAD claim for an initial rating in excess of 10% from December 11, 2014 is also denied due to lack of evidence showing a workload of greater than 5 METs resulting in dyspnea or fatigue.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection. The effective date for this grant is March 31, 2014.,Service connection for CAD and diabetes mellitus is denied as the earliest evidence of these conditions was received after March 31, 2014.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection. The effective date for CAD and diabetes mellitus remains March 31, 2014.,Right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and cerebral infarction (stroke) are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for tinnitus, but has remanded his claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of any hypertension. The examiner is asked to address whether the Veteran's hypertension pre-existed service, if it was aggravated during service, and its relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a current diagnosis of hypertension and to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis was reopened and granted. Service connection for sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and hypertension were remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition and headache condition are not service-connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral otitis media, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), tinea, verruca vulgaris with angiokeratoma, respiratory condition, and hypertension have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for a right leg disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, bilateral lung disorder, throat cancer, liver disorder, and bladder disorder. The issues are inextricably intertwined with whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete and cannot be located. The claims for service connection must be remanded to obtain these records.

The Board dismissed the appeals as to whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for gout, OSA, right leg disability, hypertension, and low back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, hernia disability, traumatic brain injury (claimed as head injury and memory loss), and hypertension. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.