Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, foot disorders, erectile dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, prostate condition, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these areas or a causal link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy, as well as the issue regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for hypertension. The Veteran is scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnosis and his military service. The Board noted that while the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service, this exposure does not cause hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining clarification of the Veteran's SSA compensation award and scheduling an updated VA diabetes examination to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and end-stage renal dysfunction due to inadequate medical opinions. The actinic keratosis with sebaceous cysts claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disability, left and right knee disabilities, and duodenal ulcer do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), residuals of throat cancer, a heart disability, a respiratory disability, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.,The Board also granted one issue - the remand on service connection for residuals of throat cancer.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claim for a heart disability and denied the claims for GERD and hypertension. The case is remanded for further development regarding the hypertension claim.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and PTSD for additional development as there is conflicting medical evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral knee disability are denied. The Veteran's claims for initial ratings greater than 10 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus and diabetes mellitus claims have been granted. The remaining issues, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and depression), hypertension, sleep apnea syndrome, erectile dysfunction, and left ankle disorder, are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but continues to deny them on their merits.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is not granted as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and kidney stones were denied. The claim for initial disability rating for coronary artery disease prior to September 5, 2018 was granted with a staged rating from that date forward.,The Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II prior to September 5, 2018 were denied. The reduction of the initial disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II from 20 percent to 10 percent effective September 5, 2018 was upheld.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 28, 2014 for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II were denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's nonlinear scars of the anterior trunk are not painful, unstable, or associated with underlying tissue damage and do not affect a total area greater than 929 square centimeters.,The Veteran does not have a current left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, or right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from February 16, 2016, to September 10, 2017. The TDIU is granted during this period and the appeal for a temporary total evaluation due to hernia repair is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a headache disorder and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's headaches may be related to PTSD, while his hypertension is unclear.

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and insomnia. The Board found no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected bilateral knee disability did not contribute to his death and was not a primary or contributory cause of death.