Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has denied DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to the Veteran not meeting the criteria for entitlement, as he was not rated by VA as being totally disabled due to service-connected disability for a continuous period of at least 10 years immediately preceding death. The appeal is also remanded for further action on issues related to the cause of the Veteran's death and burial benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, neck disability, and other joint disabilities due to inadequate development and examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension, finding no new and material evidence that would support reopening the case.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including increased ratings for various conditions and service connection for additional disabilities. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examinations to determine the current severity of his existing conditions and whether he is entitled to service connection for new disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical examination regarding the Veteran's hypertension, which is presumed to be related to service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's skin condition and hypertension are not service connected, with the exception of remanding the hypertension issue due to a change in medical literature regarding herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of increased rating for right knee disability, service connection for depression, obstructive sleep apnea, kidney disability, and hypertension. The Veteran is also required to provide updated information regarding his entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has found that the Veteran's high cholesterol is not a recognized disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore denied service connection. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and heart disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected hypertension caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death. The clinician must provide an addendum opinion addressing the August 2013 autopsy report.

The Veteran's service connection claims for conjunctivitis, neck disorder, pingueculae of the eyes, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, and bilateral upper and lower extremity (BUE/BLE) peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional medical opinions and records are needed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for left foot metatarsalgia is denied, and the case is remanded for further examination regarding service connection for hypertension.

The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is granted. Service connection for thyroid, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic renal disease, erectile dysfunction, vertigo, and chronic fatigue syndrome are denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,For lumbar spine DDD, a higher rating than 20% is not warranted due to lack of ankylosis or forward flexion at 30 degrees or less.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for hypertension should be remanded due to incomplete STRs and additional relevant records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as due to Agent Orange exposure. The claims for skin disorder, hypertension, sinus disorder, and lung disorder are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is granted service connection. The appeals for other conditions are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension as there is no evidence of their onset during active duty or within one year post-service. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical records showing treatment or follow-up for these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity, as well as for the acquisition of all relevant VA and private treatment records. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the increased rating issues.

The Board denied service connection for a lung disorder, sleep disorder, hypertension, heart disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and psychiatric disorder. The appellant's claims were not supported by competent, credible evidence of record.,Service connection was not established as the preponderance of the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension as aggravated by sleep apnea, and migraine headaches secondary to sleep apnea. The issues of service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate disorder are stayed due to the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.