Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's spouse is seeking service connection for hypertension and kidney disease, which are currently pending. The claims have been remanded due to the need to determine if the spouse meets eligibility requirements for substitution in the case of the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, chronic atrial fibrillation, hypertension, low back disorder, and prostate cancer. The appeals for headaches with loss of balance, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions listed in the decision.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding no evidence of chronic hypertension in service or a nexus to herbicide exposure. Service connection was also denied for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and some other conditions are granted service connection, but the Veteran did not timely file a notice of disagreement for his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected narcolepsy. His sleep disorder, claimed as obstructive sleep apnea and primary insomnia, is denied. The maximum disability rating of 80 percent for narcolepsy is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension and right eyelid and right cheek scars have been evaluated, but the low back condition requires further examination to determine its current severity.,Service connection for congenital stenosis (low back) is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorder, GERD, headaches (including migraines), hypertension, TBI residuals, seizures, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, right and left shoulder disorders, right and left wrist disorders, elbow bursitis, bilateral hand disorder, knee disorders, eye disorder, sinus disorder with nose bleeds, and face trauma have all been denied.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not met the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10% rating. The claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition, and the current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death. No specific conditions or exposure basis are addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lateral collateral ligament sprain, chronic/recurrent, left ankle and right ankle have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been remanded due to an inadequate examination report.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, low back pain, and right elbow tendonitis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claims were remanded for other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis had its onset during his military service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete documentation and a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Veteran may not have received correspondence from VA, and his vocational rehabilitation file is missing.

The Board is remanding three issues: service connection for hypertension (secondary to PTSD), service connection for nephropathy, and service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities.,The Veteran's service connection claims for nephropathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been reopened due to new evidence. The Board is remanding these issues as well.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. The effective date claim is denied as there was no pending formal or informal claim prior to April 11, 2012.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection, while his cysts on the ear and eye are denied. The Veteran's scar from the right anterior upper thigh, status post cyst removal, is granted a noncompensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not proximately caused by his service-connected diabetes or PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder. The Veteran did not timely file a Notice of Disagreement with the July 2009 denial of service connection for hypertension, and his claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder was denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no further action can be taken on these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequacies in previous VA examination opinions and inconsistencies with other evidence of record.