Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed as he withdrew his claims for tuberculosis, hypertension, and an increased rating for tinnitus. The Board also found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which he can seek service connection.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance is denied as there is no evidence of helplessness or inability to protect oneself from daily hazards.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection. The appeal is also remanded for further examination regarding special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance/housebound.

The Veteran's hypertension is not related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and the Board has requested a remand for further examination. The relationship between hypertension and service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and/or PTSD is also unclear.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for left knee partial removal of the medial meniscus, in excess of 20 percent for right knee meniscus tear and in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left knee.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, kidney disorder, and headaches have been denied. The claim for increased rating of coronary artery disease has also been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, vertigo, and hypertension. The decision is based on a finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during active service or within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the incompletion of development related to his service connection claims for PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease. The Board will complete the requested development before considering these issues.

The Veteran's migraines and vertigo are granted as service-connected.,Effective dates for the grants of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease are denied.,Service connection is granted for a left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. Effective dates for these conditions are not granted as the Veteran did not file claims prior to July 7, 2014.,The Veteran's hypertension, anxiety, and depression are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension, an underlying cause of his death, is shown to be presumptively service connected due to herbicide agent exposure during his service. Therefore, the criteria to establish service connection for the cause of his death are met and the claim is granted.

The Veteran's asthma, hypertension, and GERD are granted as service-connected. The lumbar spine disability is assigned an initial rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension is granted. The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his hypertension and Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for chronic renal failure with hypertension due to a lack of supporting evidence regarding symptoms such as lethargy, weakness, anorexia, weight loss, or limitation of exertion.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for depression due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claim is now reopened, but a VA examination is needed to determine if the depression is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical treatment provided at Mercy Medical Center on September 17, 2012 is denied because a VA facility was feasibly available and an attempt to use the VA facility would have been considered reasonable by a prudent layperson.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder, back disorder, hypertension, upper extremity neuropathy, and lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. Prior to September 20, 2018, the initial rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent.

The Board requested a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension was proximately due to or permanently aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and reviewing new medical literature submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's hypertension is treated with medication, but there was no evidence of a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more. The Veteran's back disability has been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, arteriosclerotic heart disease with premature atrial contractions and intermittent paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, and hypertension do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.