Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all issues related to service connection, including bronchitis, heart disability (WPW Syndrome), hypertension, deep vein thrombosis, peptic ulcer, hernia hiatal, and glucose intolerance.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, tinnitus, bilateral eye disability, erectile dysfunction, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral sinusitis, vertigo, and bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's claims were not reopened due to the lack of new evidence.,Service connection was also denied for insomnia.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hypertension and traumatic brain injury for further development, including obtaining missing service records and conducting new examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and major depressive disorder), hypertension, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), and erectile dysfunction (ED) due to in-service stressors. The Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptomatology will be considered.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and pancreatitis are denied. The claim for migraines is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid disability, sleep disorder (insomnia and sleep apnea), and high blood pressure. The evidence submitted since the final denial is considered new and material.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, due to in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran served on ships within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam during the Vietnam Era.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection, but his hypertension, inguinal hernia, and headaches are denied as they did not begin during service or are not related to in-service events.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for high blood pressure and related conditions was denied as there is no evidence that the VA treatment caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and increased rating claims due to new evidence received after previous decisions. The Veteran is entitled to a compensable rating for hypertension, but additional development is needed as no SOC was issued regarding this issue. He also needs an examination to determine the current severity of his hypertension. Other issues are remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates. The specific issues include bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, increased ratings for coronary artery disease, and effective dates for erectile dysfunction and SMC.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for hypertension, a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle disability, or a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral syndrome. However, a 10 percent rating was granted for left knee degenerative joint disease effective January 7, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychological disorders examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is related to service or her right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right knee disability, left ankle injury residuals, and herpes zoster due to potential service connection. Further development is needed including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, Grave's disease, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), history of C-section, and costochondritis. The Veteran was granted service connection for allergic conjunctivitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for hypertension and its relationship to the Veteran's PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding secondary service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with additional evidence and an expert opinion is needed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for stroke disability, high blood pressure, headache disability, and defective vision of the right eye. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability. The effective date for the award of service connection for right eye central serous chorioretinopathy is set at February 3, 2017. The Veteran's initial compensable rating and higher ratings for his psychiatric disability are remanded due to lack of evidence prior to February 3, 2017. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.