Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's thoracic spine disability was rated at 20 percent effective June 8, 2016. The Veteran is granted a compensable rating for her left otosclerosis and a 10 percent rating for her hypertension.,The Veteran’s service-connected conditions did not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to the period of appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for kidney disability, prostate disability, rheumatoid arthritis, memory loss, vision problems, and hypertension as there is no evidence of current disabilities.,Service treatment records show some medical issues during service but do not indicate any chronic conditions that would support a claim for these disabilities.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the appellant is not entitled to VA death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development on the issues of service connection for glaucoma, heart disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, proteinuria, BPH, and anemia. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,There is no direct evidence linking any of these conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for several issues, including service connection claims and increased rating claims. The appeals are being placed in RAMP (Rapid Appeals Modernization Program) due to receipt of a valid Opt-In notice.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability is granted.,The Veteran's requests to reopen the claims of service connection for residuals of a bilateral super rectus fader operation, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety are granted.,Service connection for bipolar disorder is granted.,An earlier effective date of December 5, 2005, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for a left ankle sprain is granted.,An earlier effective date of December 5, 2005, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for a right ankle sprain is granted.,An earlier effective date of February 22, 2012, but not earlier, for the award of an increased rating to 10 percent for status post left wrist trauma with arthroscopy with triangular fibrocartilage complex is granted.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the award of an increased rating of 10 percent for the right wrist sprain is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for hypertension is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for status post left foot trauma is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for status post left knee ACL repair and medial meniscectomy with residual degenerative arthritis is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for chronic cervical strain is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension and his request for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss were both denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including breathing problems, hypertension, skin cancer, and skin rashes. The heart condition (enlarged heart) was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and hypertension, including as due to Agent Orange exposure. Additional evidence is needed from the Veteran and efforts should be made to obtain private medical records. An addendum VA opinion is required regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to August 18, 2011 for the grant of service connection for GERD with insomnia is denied.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C remains pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for lumbar arthralgia with lumbar spondylosis, right shoulder arthralgia, left shoulder arthralgia, left leg pain, and right leg pain are all pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension (high blood pressure) remains pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for dizziness, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) remain pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), claimed as a respiratory condition, remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left knee condition, right knee condition, GERD, spot on the lung, tinnitus, vision condition, hiatal hernia, hypothyroidism, gout or high blood pressure and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.,The Board also found no evidence that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, kidney disease, and diabetes due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's work history and the impact of his service-connected conditions on his ability to work. The claim will be referred for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lymphadenitis of the right side of neck, hypertension (HTN), left side trapezius strain, corneal degeneration arcus senilis, pinguecula, and heart disability. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disease, hypertension, and foot fungus due to potential service connection based on herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his condition does not require regulation of activities and has not resulted in episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year.

The Veteran's dizziness is related to his service-connected migraine headaches.,The Veteran does not have a diagnosed disability underlying his shortness of breath symptoms.,The Veteran’s hypertension is at least as likely as not related to his service in Vietnam and exposure to Agent Orange.,High cholesterol is considered a laboratory finding, not a disability for which service connection may be granted.,The Veteran does not have a diagnosed disability of bilateral radiculopathy.,The Veteran's left lower polyneuropathy most closely approximates severe partial paralysis, warranting a 30 percent rating.,The Veteran's right lower polyneuropathy has been categorized as most closely approximating severe partial paralysis, also warranting a 30 percent rating.,Diabetes mellitus is not manifested to a degree requiring regulation of activities.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides during his service in Korea. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death as well as DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.