Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were not incurred in service, but has remanded for further development to address these issues.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional medical clarification and examination. The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded because of conflicting evidence regarding his reported stressors. His hypertension, hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, and GERD claims are also remanded as there are insufficient post-service records or medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, but no higher. The evidence shows that the Veteran's diastolic pressure has not been predominantly 110 or more and his systolic pressure has not been predominantly 200 or more.

The Veteran's hypertension, which required continuous medication, did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating as defined by VA regulations. The evidence showed that his blood pressure readings were consistently below the threshold of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more and systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the claim for service connection for hypertension was granted in a previous rating decision, effective May 30, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension secondary to his service-connected PTSD and for entitlement to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support finding that the hypertension was caused or aggravated by the PTSD, nor could it be linked to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date of service connection for hypertension and right eye cataract is denied. The Board has remanded the case to develop evidence related to the right eye cataract claim.

The Board denied service connection for postoperative residuals of an occipital meningioma and a pituitary microadenoma, as well as hypertension, finding that the conditions did not have their onset in or are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding possible exposure to herbicide agents and to secure a medical opinion on the nature and etiology of her service-connected conditions, including vascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), congestive heart failure (CHF), pulmonary hypertension, arteriosclerotic vascular disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), renal disease and/or failure, and hemosiderosis of the liver.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran, including medical articles linking hypertension to PTSD. The case is now pending further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination regarding hypertension, renal failure, and depression.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing whether it is secondary to a service-connected disability, specifically PTSD with major depressive disorder.,Service connection for a kidney disability and rheumatoid arthritis are both remanded as there was no opinion on whether these conditions were related to in-service herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis remains pending due to the need for an addendum opinion addressing its relationship to in-service herbicide exposure.

Service connection was denied for hypertension, a heart disability (fast heart), and hyperthyroidism. The Veteran's claims of service connection were not supported by the evidence of record.,Compensation under U.S.C. § 1151 for hypertension and hyperthyroidism was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The right knee and hypertension cases are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether in-service parvovirus and associated treatment caused or aggravated the Veteran's heart disease, leading to his cause of death.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly pension as her medical evidence did not support her contention that she needs regular aid and attendance or is permanently housebound.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is found to have caused his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board also finds that the Veteran's hypertension may be related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's low back disability. The case is remanded to determine service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for hypertension was not successful, as the new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied. The Veteran has not provided medical evidence showing he currently suffers from such a condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, hypertension, and prostate disability are all granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a credible history of low back pain since service and current diagnoses of hypertension and prostate disability. However, it denied service connection for hypertension due to lack of evidence showing its onset during service or being related to an in-service injury or event. Service connection was also denied for prostate disability as there is no evidence of chronicity of the condition dating back to service.