Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased evaluations and earlier effective dates in several cases, including those related to atrioventricular block (heart), sleep apnea, TMJ, upper respiratory disability, hypertension, right fifth metatarsal fracture, uvulopalatoplasty, left eye pterygium, and right eye pterygium. The Board also dismissed the claims for service connection for headaches, mental condition, TBI, deviated nasal septum, an upper respiratory condition, and left hip strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and lumbosacral strain due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for venous insufficiency, fatigue in the legs, an enlarged testicle, and soft tissue sarcoma have been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus (secondary to herbicide exposure), erectile dysfunction (as secondary to prostate cancer), peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, thyroid disorder, tremors, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, gout, and kidney disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound due to a lack of evidence showing she is in need of regular aid and assistance or permanently housebound.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete evidence and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to gather her complete work history, obtain missing VA treatment records, and schedule a psychiatric examination. The goal is to determine if she can secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to her disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was reopened and granted. The effective date of the grant is set at May 24, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 17, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and renal failure have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU for the entire period of appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. The cases of low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, ED, an eye disorder, a stroke, cardiomegaly, bilateral flat feet, and enlarged prostate. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.,Specifically, the Veteran’s diabetic nephropathy with hypertension was rated at 80 percent and no higher rating could be assigned due to lack of evidence of dialysis or markedly decreased function of kidney systems.

The Board has decided that the record would benefit from obtaining medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to service or was aggravated by a pre-existing heart condition. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected hypertension was denied as his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, right knee, left knee, right foot, left foot, neurological disorders (fibromyalgia and toxic encephalopathy), CFS, heart disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss. The appeals are now pending with the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension (HTN) as secondary to the Veteran's major depressive disorder with posttraumatic stress and anxiety features. The evidence shows that these conditions have been aggravated by his psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lung conditions, specifically chronic bronchitis and asthma. The Veteran is presumed to have been sound at service enlistment for asthma.

The Veteran's diabetes, prostate cancer residuals, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are currently rated at 20 percent each. The Board found no evidence to warrant higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus (DM) has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.,Specifically, the Board concluded that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. For hypertension, the Board noted that it was diagnosed prior to the onset of service-connected type II diabetes mellitus (DM).