Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, pulmonary embolus (PE), and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) due to insufficient evidence in the current record. The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Board has granted service connection for venous insufficiency, finding it secondary to the Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. Service connection for hypertension was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension conditions are remanded for further examination to determine their relationship to service, with a focus on the impact of his service-connected sarcoidosis.

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

The appeals for service connection for left knee replacement, glaucoma, sleep apnea, polyps in the colon, and right knee arthritis are dismissed. Service connection is granted for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right knee. The appeals for service connection for hypertension and heart disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and deviated septum has been restored. Service connection for PTSD, GERD, sleep apnea, hypertension, and coronary artery disease is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at 70 percent, effective April 24, 2019. The other claims remain pending.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if there are any additional conditions related to his light headedness, which he attributes to his hypertension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, and that a compensable rating for hypertension prior to December 17, 2015 is remanded due to new evidence.

Service connection for coronary artery disease is granted. An effective date earlier than January 31, 2015, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is remanded. Service connection for left eye ischemic optic neuropathy and hypertension are remanded. Service connection for peripheral vascular disease (bilateral lower and upper extremities) and kidney dysfunction are remanded. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded. Special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, hypertension, and headaches have been granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a low back disability. However, the claims for hypertension and headaches were denied as there was no new and material evidence received.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not have its onset during active duty service and was not otherwise related to active duty service. The Board also found that hypertension is not caused or aggravated by PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for continued symptoms of urine retention and incontinence as a residual of ablation of the posterior urethral valve surgery, but found that VA's failure to timely diagnose and properly treat the disease or injury did not cause additional disability. The case is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy due to service-connected conditions, including type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, PTSD, and herbicide exposure. The claims will be reconsidered with consideration of secondary service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and high blood pressure before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service or presumed herbicide exposure. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a relationship to diabetes mellitus either.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable initial rating for service-connected hypertension is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a link between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including liver cancer and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (claimed as fatty liver), prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, residuals of mini-stroke, gout, hypertension, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations or medical opinions.