Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and granted. The claims for right shoulder, headache disorder, hypertension, and bicipital tendonitis and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder remain pending.

The Veteran withdrew all of his claims, including those related to service connection for various disabilities and initial ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and fibromyalgia due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's hypertension was rated at 10 percent prior to January 9, 2020 and denied a higher rating. Since then, she has been rated at 20 percent effective January 9, 2020.

The claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition (previously claimed as leg condition), hypertension, and right carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The claim for service connection of the right ankle condition was remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The appeal for hypertension is dismissed. The PTSD claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a personality disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for hypertension is denied because it did not begin during active service, was not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, and is not causally related to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's hypertension has not been manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more. As such, the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating prior to November 20, 2013, for hypertension have not been met.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and examination, as there are inconsistencies in the Veteran's reported dates of service and medical records. The claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for hypertension due to service-connected disabilities and presumed in-service herbicide exposure. The case is being returned for further development, including obtaining a new VA opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to inadequate examination and failure to consider PTSD in relation to hypertension. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.,The Veteran's left foot injury (pes planus, mild talonavicular DJD, mild DJD of the first metatarsophalangeal joints, hallux valgus) did not manifest in service or within one year of separation from service. The Board remanded this issue for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral glaucoma with diabetic retinopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral spine disability and hypertension, as well as his claim for TDIU, have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 20 percent for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for cardiomegaly as it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease. The application to readjudicate the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied because no new and relevant evidence was submitted.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back pain, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II is found to be the primary cause of his diagnosed hypertension, kidney disability, peripheral neuropathies in multiple extremities. Service connection for these conditions is granted.