Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of heart murmur, hypertension, and anemia.,The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder were granted a 70% evaluation prior to February 4, 2016, and a 100% evaluation since then. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for osteoarthritis, lung disease (claimed as COPD), hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not established for left ear hearing loss or hypertension, and the Veteran did not receive a higher rating for his shin pain disabilities.

The appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for hypertension is dismissed.,The appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder is dismissed.,The appeal concerning entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,The appeal concerning entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,The appeal concerning entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy is dismissed.,The appeal concerning entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The issue of service connection for ununited fracture of the styloid of the left fibula remains pending.

The Board has vacated the November 2018 decision, finding that new evidence was not considered. The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure are denied as there is no credible evidence of actual exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoporosis and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and major depression are being remanded for further examination and opinion.,Service connection cannot be established as the Veteran did not have a current disability during service or within one year of discharge, nor can it be presumed based on chronic diseases.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination to assess his current employment impact from service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and gastritis. However, the reopened claims were denied on the merits as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions or a causal link to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied and not reopened, resulting in a denial of the appeal.,Service connection for vertigo has been granted as it is secondary to service-connected migraine headaches.,Obesity was found not to be a disease or injury for VA compensation purposes, thus denying the claim for obesity.,Encephalomalacia was denied due to lack of evidence showing current disability related to in-service head trauma.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim remains denied as there is no evidence of a penile deformity.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and gastrointestinal disorders are pending, requiring further examination and opinion.,Other issues remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and residual of status post right testicle orchiectomy due to new evidence suggesting a potential association between herbicide agent exposure and hypertension. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his service, specifically his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for stroke and SMC based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to their inextricability with the issue of service connection for stroke. The effective date for hypertension service connection remains denied.

The Veteran's CAD, status post CABG, is currently rated at 60 percent and the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's residual surgical scarring associated with CAD status post CABG has been rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's hypertension has required continuous management by medications but has never met the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on pure tone threshold average or speech discrimination rate.,The Veteran's chronic atrial fibrillation has been rated at 30 percent and factors warranting extraschedular consideration are neither shown nor alleged.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for service-connected hypertension, finding that the Veteran's diastolic pressure was not predominantly over 100 and thus did not meet the criteria for a minimum compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to missing service treatment records and incomplete National Guard service information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has continued to work throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for glaucoma, sinus disorder (to include rhinitis), respiratory disorder (to include asthma), hypertension, and headaches were denied.,An effective date prior to May 30, 2014 for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to helpless child benefits on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support before attaining the age of 18 due to new and material evidence. The Appellant is shown to have been permanently incapable of self-support by reason of a mental or physical condition prior to attaining 18 years of age.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran will need to provide updated VA and private treatment records, and a VA examination is required to determine the current severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and the nature and etiology of his claimed hypertension and erectile dysfunction.