Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's prostate cancer and hypertension claims are remanded due to incomplete records. The Board requests the complete personnel record, including TDY service details, and asks for additional treatment records close in time to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and hypertension, to include as secondary to PTSD, is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has stayed the adjudication of cases affected by the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, including this case. The issues currently on appeal are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral flatfeet, bilateral ankle disability, tinnitus, perforation of the right ear drum, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and headaches have been granted. The claim for service connection for lumbar spondylosis (residuals, low back strain) has also been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their relationship to his cause of death, including a potential link to radiation exposure in service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and evaluation, including Parkinson's Disease, TBI residuals, skin disability, hypertension, OSA, an acquired psychiatric disorder, vertigo, and TDIU. The Veteran’s claims are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for Parkinson's Disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to asbestos and herbicide agents while serving on the U.S.S. Puget Sound.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The hypertension claim is remanded as it requires further development.

The Veteran's request for restoration of a 10 percent rating for his scar associated with left inguinal herniorrhaphy with mesh implant, effective May 30, 2019, is granted. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the same scar and the hypertension claim are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for hypertension has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent effective November 29, 2018. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the frequency and severity of her prostrating attacks.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for asbestosis, pulmonary hypertension, and COPD due to inadequate efforts in verifying the Veteran's claimed in-service asbestos exposure. The VA examiner is required to review the file and provide an opinion on whether these conditions are etiologically related to any aspect of active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for a cardiovascular disability, specifically left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's death was due to pulmonary hypertension and chronic kidney disease. The claim for service connection for a low back disability, which was pending at the time of his death, has been granted with a 10% rating effective March 2, 2009. As a result, the appeal for nonservice-connected burial benefits is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, lung cancer, hypertension, and left wrist disability have been denied. The claim for service connection for COPD was reopened based on new evidence but still not substantiated. Lung cancer is also not supported by the evidence as related to service. Hypertension and left wrist disability are both denied.

The Veteran's son, D.W.M., was denied recognition as a helpless child due to the evidence showing he had significant physical limitations but also functional abilities that allowed him to support himself.

The Veteran's headaches, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder due to medical conditions with major depressive episode and anxious distress features) are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's headaches, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder based on a direct relationship to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering his current service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his skin cancer and service connection. The TDIU claim prior to April 18, 2011, is also remanded as it may be eligible for an extraschedular rating.