Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board denied entitlement to a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for PTSD, and service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the legs. The Veteran's appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that another remand is required due to the lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and insomnia. The Veteran must attend rescheduled VA examinations to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to his in-service conditions or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee DJD, GERD, and hypertension is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that Gilbert's syndrome, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, gout of the bilateral ankles, feet, and toes, arthritis of the lumbar spine with strain, plantar fasciitis with mild degenerative joint disease (left foot), plantar fasciitis with mild degenerative joint disease (right foot), allergic rhinitis, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease with diverticulitis, and sebaceous cyst were not service connected or warranted increased ratings.

The Veteran's obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, skin disability, unexplained sickness, and dental disability are not service-connected.,The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's knee disorder is not considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by active duty service or reserve training.,Service connection was also denied for hypertension, as the evidence does not support its onset during active duty service or reserve training. The Board found that the Veteran’s current diagnosis of hypertension is more likely related to his age and weight rather than any military service.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of a lower back disability was granted. His claims for hypertension and tinnitus were denied, while his PTSD claim was also denied.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date for DIC from March 7, 2019, to August 1, 1999, on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) because there was no CUE in the previous denials of DIC.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for iron deficiency anemia and hypertension were denied as the evidence did not show that her conditions required more than a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Both his right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, gout, rhinitis, acne vulgaris and PFB, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (ED), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and sleep apnea have been granted service connection. The effective date for the grant of service connection is December 10, 2014.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, residuals of TBI, memory loss secondary to TBI, and hypertension are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for hyperlipidemia is denied because it does not constitute a compensable disability under VA compensation programs.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, BHL, tinnitus, DM, HTN, and neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder disabilities and a right leg disability. The claims were based on direct evidence rather than presumptions or secondary theories.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of gout and hypertension for additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated during periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chest pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and PTSD), hypertension, headaches, and involuntary muscle spasms/tremors due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the period of appeal from June 6, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a temporary 100% rating due to back surgery, then a 20% rating from February 9, 2015 onward.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to additional disability caused or aggravated by VA treatment in 2014, and for special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance or housebound level.