Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for herniated disc, asthma, emphysema, arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD), diabetes mellitus (DM), sleep apnea, arthritis, Crohn's disease, and renal insufficiency with hypertension (HTN) due to incomplete service records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hypertension is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his condition was caused by VA treatment or negligence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the submission of additional evidence regarding the Veteran's post-service symptoms and related medical research, which was not considered by the previous VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if his low back disability, bronchitis, vasovagal syncope, heart condition and high blood pressure are related to service.

The Veteran's income exceeds the maximum annual pension rate for nonservice-connected pension, so his claim is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in service.,Obstructive sleep apnea is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis and no medical opinion linking it to service.,The cause of death, cardio pulmonary arrest, was not related to the Veteran's service.,DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the cause of death is denied as there is no evidence that VA care caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for gout and hypertension, finding new and material evidence. However, it denied both claims as there is no indication that either condition was incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as it did not result from carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board determined that the March 2010 rating decision, which assigned a 10 percent initial rating for myofascial lumbar syndrome with right leg radiculopathy, did not contain clear and unmistakable error. The Veteran's service-connected onychomycosis was granted, but his service-connected thyroid condition and hypertension were denied.

The Veteran's asthma, heart disability (including coronary artery disease), and hypertension are denied as service connection because the evidence does not show that these conditions began during or were aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of heart disability, hypertension, and PVD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a left elbow contusion, gastroenteritis, acid reflux, and other conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection is being reopened for residuals of a left elbow contusion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic headache disorder and fatigue disorder, were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to active service.,Service connection was also denied for kidney disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), blood disorder, and left lower extremity neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, his right ankle disability was rated at its maximum of 20 percent under DC 5271, his hypertension met criteria for a 60 percent rating but no higher, and his lumbar spine disability warranted an initial 60 percent rating. The Veteran's claims were not remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not provided. The claim for atrial fibrillation secondary to PTSD is granted, but the rating for PTSD remains denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disability (other than sleep apnea) and hypertension. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension has not been manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more requiring continuous medication for control. As such, the claim for a compensable rating for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's prostate and blood conditions are not service-connected as they were not present in service or for many years thereafter, and are not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran has not had a right hip disability during the period of the claim. The Veteran has not had a left hip disability during the period of the claim. The Veteran has not had a spleen disability during the period of the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and hypertension due to incomplete information from previous VA examinations.