Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine degenerative changes with disc bulges and multiple lower extremity radiculopathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has remanded the matter for further consideration of whether TDIU is moot due to his combined 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's initial staged ratings for hypertension prior to April 27, 2018 were denied. From April 27, 2018, the Veteran's hypertension was rated at 10 percent and remains so.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including kidney cancer and spinal cancer, are remanded due to the need for additional medical records.,A decision on the issue of entitlement to SMC based on loss of use of both feet is inextricably intertwined with a decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for paralysis from the chest down.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions and need for additional clarification regarding service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened and granted. Service connection is established for major depressive disorder, hypertension secondary to major depressive disorder, and psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder).

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension, as it is related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for atrial fibrillation and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence of record. The VA will need to provide examinations and etiology opinions regarding the onset and relationship of these conditions to service, specifically herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lung disability, headaches, sleep apnea, hypertension, and esophagus disability due to missing active duty service treatment records.

The Veteran's chronic tension headaches are granted service connection. The other issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, degenerative disc and spondylitic changes, bilateral leg condition, and bilateral metatarsus adductus due to a lack of medical documentation supporting the Veteran’s assertion that his symptoms began during service.

The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for a determination on whether it may be due to herbicide exposure. The GERD and hiatal hernia are also remanded for an opinion on whether they were aggravated by the CABG surgery. A temporary total evaluation based on convalescence or hospitalization for the 2015 laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair is also remanded.,The Veteran's hypertension may be related to herbicide exposure, but a new examination is needed to determine if it was aggravated by his service-connected CABG. The GERD and hiatal hernia are remanded as VA carelessness or negligence could have worsened the preexisting conditions. A temporary total evaluation based on convalescence for the 2015 surgery is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for renal failure and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no causal relationship between these conditions and his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on issues related to his right ankle condition, initial rating for migraines prior to April 13, 2017, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for migraines after that date.

The Board has denied an increased rating for hypertension and has remanded the case to determine if a TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's GERD is granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's hypertension is denied a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed before these claims can be decided.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD but has remanded the remaining issues due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower pole thyroid hyperfunctioning adenoma and hypertension due to a missed VA examination. The Veteran is required to attend another scheduled VA examination.