Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and its related peripheral neuropathies as well as high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, and sleep apnea, all of which were claimed to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not preexist his active service and was not incurred or related to his military service.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for service connection, including those related to syringomyelia, transverse myelitis, hypertension, headaches, and other conditions. The issues are all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected spinal stenosis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions on several service connection issues.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under Diagnostic Code 7522.,The Veteran's left little finger disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5230.,The Veteran's right hand disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Hypercholesterolemia is not service-connected.,Erectile dysfunction, hypertension, headaches, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran's tinnitus began during his military service. Service connection is granted.,Hypercholesterolemia is not a disability that can be awarded by VA.,Erectile dysfunction, hypertension, headaches, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are all remanded for further development. The Veteran's service connection claims will need to be re-evaluated based on new evidence or clarification.,The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s left shoulder disability is less likely than not caused by his military service due to lack of medical records supporting a chronic condition during service, and right shoulder disability was deferred as the Veteran had not been released from his orthopedic surgeon at the time of examination. The claims are remanded for further development.,The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s left shoulder disability is less likely than not caused by his military service due to lack of medical records supporting a chronic condition during service, and right shoulder disability was deferred as the Veteran had not been released from his orthopedic surgeon at the time of examination. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus, type II and service connection for hypertension has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran’s hypertension was proximately due to or caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board vacated its March 31, 2020 decision due to jurisdictional issues and returned the case for further development. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for ED, hypertension, and sleep apnea were remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorder, neurological symptoms, sleep disturbance, muscle and joint pain, and skin symptoms. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for high cholesterol. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, sleep apnea, left knee disability, right knee osteoarthritis, and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and asthma, as well as his increased disability ratings for left leg and left shoulder disabilities due to incomplete VA examination records and failure to comply with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted prior to July 12, 2019. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for CIDP, hypertension, chronic UTIs or hematuria, and a skin disorder secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus due to incomplete opinions regarding causation.

The Veteran's tinnitus and recurrent upper respiratory infections are granted service connection. However, the Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further review.,Service connection for tinnitus is established based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is being remanded for further development, including extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and further examination is needed to determine if any of his conditions are related to in-service events.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for right knee, left knee, back, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II disabilities. The issues are remanded due to a lack of SSA records.