Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and missing VA records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions and review all available records.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with legible copies of VA Form 21-2680s, conflicting findings in the April 2015 private and VA examination reports, and a need for an additional VA examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss, coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, and hypertension are all denied. The cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy issues have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his acquired psychiatric disorder was granted with a 50% disability rating. His claim to reopen service connection for hypertension was denied, as no new and material evidence was submitted. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for hypertension was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,His acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 50%.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder condition has been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted.,Service connection for a neck condition is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or any incident thereof.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on multiple service-connected conditions is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's depression is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus and depression.,The Veteran's high blood pressure (hypertension) is not granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and malignant melanoma due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral epidermophytosis of the feet has been reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board finds that this condition is not related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, with no current evidence linking the two conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for COPD and hypertension has been granted, with a 30% disability rating for asbestosis. The effective date is January 17, 2013.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in August 2017 is incomplete for rating purposes and remands the case to obtain a new opinion addressing whether the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, as well as any direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because his May 2014 substantive appeal was not timely filed, and thus the December 2013 rating decision is final.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for new evidence to reopen some of the claims. The VA is instructed to obtain SSA records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD, hypertension, and headaches require additional development due to outdated examination reports. The claims are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hypertension is denied, and his claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's current chronic kidney disease is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has granted service connection for chronic kidney disease on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, low back disability, bilateral leg disability, and residuals of left hand and fingers injury due to conflicting evidence in the record.,Further medical examination is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision.