Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30% prior to January 30, 2012 and granted a 70% rating effective January 30, 2012.,Service connection for sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension secondary to residuals of left knee injury with arthritis is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of Bell’s palsy, residuals of a removal of a malignant growth, hyperparathyroidism, kidney stones, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is dismissed. Service connection for hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension due to a lack of evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The case is returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and hypertension, as well as an increased rating for left knee disability. The case is REMANDED to schedule new examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to privacy request issues and missing VA medical records from 1990 to 1997. The claims for bilateral knee pain, lumbar spine spondylosis and degenerative disc disease, and an earlier effective date are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar and lower extremity conditions, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person. As a result, SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to issues related to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, including potential exposure to herbicide agents in the territorial waters of Vietnam. The VA is also directed to issue a Statement of the Case on the claim for survivor’s pension benefits.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, hypertension, back disability, right shin splint disorder, left shin splint disorder, ingrown toenails, seizure disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and bilateral ear keratosis obturans have all been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for the right middle finger laceration scar has been granted.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for atrial fibrillation and an increased rating for residuals of post-stroke. The Veteran's hypertension is denied a higher rating, and the effective date for prostate cancer service connection remains February 9, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted for bilateral flat feet, but denied for migraine headaches, generalized primary osteoarthritis, knee replacement resulting from bone cancer, hypertension, prostate cancer, and diabetes. The decision also found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed chronic migraine headache disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and TDIU due to inadequacy of previous medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his military service. The case is returned for further development.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeal for full body skin rash. The claims for service connection for hypertension and lumbar spine disabilities have been reopened due to new evidence submitted since the September 2005 rating decision. However, the claim for residuals of gall bladder removal remains denied as there is no material evidence supporting a secondary service connection theory.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and tinnitus, finding that there was no in-service diagnosis or exposure to noise that would support a claim of service connection. The Veteran's statements were not supported by the contemporaneous medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disability, including valvular heart disease, implanted cardiac pacemaker, and pulmonary hypertension due to exposure to Agent Orange. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic skin condition and hypertension have been reopened, but the underlying claims are denied.,Service connection is granted for PTSD with anxiety disorder and depression prior to September 1, 2017, at a rating of 70 percent. The claim remains pending as it was not fully resolved.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA examination for hypertension, which is deemed necessary to make a decision on the claim. The Veteran's lay contentions must be considered and weighed in making the determination as to whether a nexus exists between his current disorder and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The issue is remanded for a VA examination to determine if the hypertension began in or is otherwise caused by the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of regulation of activities and no episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalizations.,The Veteran's hypertension was initially evaluated with his service-connected diabetes mellitus; however, he is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they were below the threshold of diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more.