Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for high blood pressure, chronic fatigue syndrome, and frequent nose bleeds due to Gulf War service. The claims are pending as new evidence may be found from private doctors.

The Board has remanded the cases of PTSD, tremors, and hypertension due to incomplete records from the Veteran's counseling at the St. George Vet Center and for addendum opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's prostate disability is not related to his military service, including herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran does not have a separate sleep disorder that is distinct from his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable and the Board finds no basis for granting a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD prior to September 8, 2015, but denied a higher rating after that date.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, tinnitus, hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and hypertension are denied. The claim for increased rating of headaches as a result of traumatic brain injury is granted to the extent that he is entitled to a 50% disability rating. The appeal regarding service connection for back condition is granted due to new and relevant evidence being submitted.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, blepharitis, tension headaches, hypertension, right shoulder condition, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board requires VA to obtain all outstanding treatment records from the San Juan VAMC and request relevant psychiatric treatment records from Dr. M.R.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension. The claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ are denied.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the June 2013 rating decision is sufficient to readjudicate claims for service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as hypertension. The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because it was only a proposal to sever service connection for hypertension and not a final determination.

The Board has denied service connection for active tuberculosis, athlete's foot, frontal headaches, esophageal reflux, hypertension, and left eye disability with corneal abrasion. The Veteran does not have a current disability for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension is denied as the evidence does not show that his diastolic pressure has been predominantly 110 mm/Hg or more, or systolic pressure has been predominantly 200 mm/Hg or more at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, and heart disorders (including heart murmur and valvular heart disease). Service connection for vasculitis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and re-adjudication, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's hypertension. The SMC claim is also pending as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim for ED.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be the primary cause of his hypertension, heart disorder (Long QT Syndrome), and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board grants these claims as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating under applicable criteria.,The Veteran’s left wrist disability is currently rated at 10 percent and no higher as per the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for gout, frostbite, lumbar spine disability, and hypertension due to lack of current diagnoses or persistent symptoms.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as noncompensable because his blood pressure readings have not consistently been at or above the levels required for a compensable rating under VA's criteria.

The Veteran's hypertension was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable initial disability rating under Diagnostic Code 7101, as his diastolic blood pressure did not predominantly reach 100 or more and systolic blood pressure did not predominantly reach 160 or more. The Board denied the claim.