Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been granted a 20 percent rating, effective from February 25, 2011. The Veteran's boutonniere deformity of the left hand and hypertension have both had their service connection claims reopened on new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service occurrence or a link between the condition and his active duty service. The Board also found insufficient medical nexus to support secondary service connection based on PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and sinusitis due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is not service connected for alcohol abuse, but his posttraumatic stress disorder with major depression may be aggravated by alcohol use.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, unfavorable ankylosis, or other criteria warranting a higher rating. The claims for secondary service connection for elbow and hand nerve damage, hypertension, and neck/cervical spine disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not considered a disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of ischemic heart disease at any point during the appeal period, and service connection cannot be granted.,Service connection for hypertension was denied as there are insufficient medical records to determine its relationship to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and headaches due to the need for additional evidence from private providers.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a left hip disability and chronic fatigue with sleep problems, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's hypertension and headaches were denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in service or related to service.,For the issues of increased ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities, the Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a 10 percent disability rating from June 11, 2008 through July 25, 2018, excluding the period of September 6, 2012 through October 5, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for type II diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, hypertension (presumptive due to herbicide exposure), bilateral knee strain, acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, and lumbar strain are all denied. The Veteran's claim for residuals of a left shoulder injury is remanded.,Service connection for the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorder is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus, as well as herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, as it is unclear whether PTSD caused or aggravated the condition. The case will be sent back for an additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, a psychiatric disorder, and a cervical spine disorder. The claim for severance of service connection for cervicogenic headaches was granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of congestive heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction, heart disease with cardiomyopathy, and high blood pressure as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) is granted.,Service connection for a peripheral circulatory disorder, originally claimed as peripheral vascular disease, to include as secondary to DMII, is granted.,Service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to DMII, is remanded.,Service connection for chronic kidney disease, to include as secondary to DMII, is remanded.,Service connection for cataracts, to include as secondary to DMII, is remanded.,Service connection for cardiomegaly, to include as secondary to DMII (claimed as an enlarged heart), is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, to include as secondary to DMII, is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, to include as secondary to DMII, is remanded.,Service connection for tremors (possible Parkinson's disease), to include as secondary to DMII, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist violation. The AOJ must obtain and associate with the record any relevant private and military base treatment records.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of hypertension was granted. His PTSD is currently rated at 50%, and the Board found that he did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU prior to August 21, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted for hypertension, high cholesterol, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia, or ischemic heart disease. The rating for ischemic heart disease was also denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension is not secondary to his service-connected PTSD and spine/radiculopathy disabilities, but an additional medical opinion is needed to determine if it has been worsened beyond normal progression.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of hypertension in service or within one year after service. The weight of evidence is against a finding that hypertension has existed continuously since service and is not caused by his service-connected PTSD.