Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's hypertension was not granted a higher rating prior to March 10, 2016. A 20% rating is granted for the period from March 10, 2016, to May 31, 2017. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and consideration of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of hypertension in service, nor could it be linked to his service-connected disabilities or pain and stress associated with those conditions.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent rating for headaches is granted, effective November 18, 2009. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (residuals of TBI), and PTSD are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected PTSD.

Service connection for hypertension, left shoulder injury, right shoulder injury, stroke, degenerative disk disease of the cervical spine (claimed as upper back and neck condition), and degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbosacral spine (claimed as back condition) is denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for left shoulder injury and right shoulder injury is dismissed due to a pending legacy appeal.

The appeal pertaining to the issue of entitlement to service connection for a neurological disorder of the bilateral lower extremities (BLE) is dismissed. The appeals pertaining to the issues of entitlement to service connection for a neck disorder, a neurological disorder of the bilateral upper extremities (BUE), and hypertension are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and residuals of CVA due to a lack of evidence showing a current diagnosis of these conditions during or proximate to his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits of diverticulosis, dyslipidemia, hypertension, intervertebral disc syndrome, and a refraction error have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded cases regarding service connection for a pulmonary disability, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, depressive disorder with anxiety, and glaucoma.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a 10 percent evaluation, as the evidence shows that his diastolic pressure predominantly reaches 100 or more without medication.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's death was related to his service, specifically his presumed herbicide agent exposure and service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and coronary artery disease (CAD) due to their inextricability with the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA is required to obtain addendum opinions if service connection for any psychiatric disability is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following gainful employment prior to September 18, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, finding that there is not enough evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and initial compensation are remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence, including updated treatment records and examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for cause of the Veteran’s death and denied nonservice-connected death pension benefits. The Veteran died from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, multiple-organ system failure, shock, and hypertension. There was no evidence linking his death to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for thyroid condition, DM, congestive heart failure, and HTN are denied due to lack of in-service exposure or a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right wrist condition (gout), polycystic kidney disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension because her vaginal disorder was not aggravated during her period of ACDUTRA, and thus presumptive service connection is inapplicable.