Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his representative.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all remaining issues on appeal, including those related to the conditions listed and service connection theories.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was granted, effective from February 24, 2003. The initial rating assigned is 10%.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for various conditions, including vertigo, chronic otitis externa, diabetes mellitus type II, colon polyps, residuals of a neck tumor excision, coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension. The issues are related to new evidence that reopened these claims.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability claim is also remanded as an adequate VA examination was not provided in the previous February 2015 neck conditions examination.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection and rating for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, chronic headaches are granted service connection, and a TDIU is granted. The rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent despite the submission of new evidence. Service connection for HTN was denied.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with its April 2019 remand directives, and therefore the issues of service connection for psychiatric disability (other than delusional disorder), low back disability, circulatory system disability (other than hypertension), bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and right knee disability are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disability, and acne due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Vietnam. The VA is instructed to schedule the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and periodontal disease for further development, including scheduling examinations and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, stroke, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete medical opinions and potential exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran is requested to provide updated VA treatment records and undergo a new VA examination.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, mitral regurgitation, and hypertension have been granted service connection. The claims for hiatal hernia and esophagus stricture are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The issues of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to failure to provide adequate notice and scheduling of examinations. The Veteran is required to cooperate in providing missing records and attend scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition, asthma, radiculopathy, right lower extremity, hypertension, and heart condition have been dismissed due to the absence of a case or controversy.,Entitlement to service connection has been granted for lumbosacral strain with a 10 percent rating, asthma with a 30 percent rating, sciatic nerve and femoral nerve of bilateral lower extremities with a 40 percent and 20 percent ratings respectively.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for prostate cancer is dismissed. The Board finds that the Veteran withdrew his legacy appeals and now wishes to pursue them as part of a supplemental claim under modernized review system.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and onychomycosis have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including hypertension, IBS, left knee disability, slurred speech, and right and left foot disabilities. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, left hand disability, and lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA Form 21-4142 for private medical records related to hypertension and diabetic nephropathy, obtaining VA treatment records since December 2019, and attempting to obtain a formal claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected disorders. The Veteran's representative is also requested to provide a VA Form 646 statement.

The Veteran's cause of death (myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and hypertension) is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the appellant’s claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.