Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's elevated blood pressure symptoms began during his active service and affording him the benefit of doubt.

The Veteran's AK is rated at 60% since December 2, 2019. The Board has remanded the issue of whether a higher rating is warranted prior to that date.,Service connection for hypertension was not addressed in this decision and is being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active duty service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left eye aphakia is granted. From June 26, 2008 to January 7, 2010, the Veteran's PTSD symptoms are rated at 70 percent and from January 7, 2010, his PTSD symptoms are rated at 100 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a heart disability, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disability have been granted.,An effective date of March 19, 2017, has been assigned for the award of a higher rating (50%) for major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depression due to a mass shooting incident during liberty in San Diego, California.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that his diastolic pressure was not predominantly 120 or more, which would warrant a higher rating. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and denied service connection for hypertension, high cholesterol, PTSD, and other psychiatric disorders. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation of the remaining issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to his service-connected disabilities, including heart disability, respiratory disability, hepatitis C, anxiety disorder, lumbar strain, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, accessory navicular bone stress fractures of both feet, hypertension, and TDIU. The Board also noted that the Veteran's address has changed and requested appropriate action to reschedule him for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and hypertension have been denied. The heart disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, while the hypertension has never met the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and a left arm disorder due to a duty-to-assist error involving missing VA treatment records from the 1970s.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further development. The issues of service connection remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including issues related to service connection and disability ratings. The case will be returned to the AOJ for consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and osteoarthritis (including of the bilateral hands, right knee, right hip, left shoulder, and neck), all claimed as secondary to service-connected cognitive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 11, 2009. The Board denied the claim for TDIU on both schedular and extraschedular grounds.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and sleep apnea. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea and hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service-connected deviated septum is alleged to have aggravated his sleep apnea, but this needs further examination. Similarly, the relationship between hypertension and both sleep apnea and the Veteran’s service need clarification.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and/or hypertension. However, due to inadequate reasoning in a previous VA opinion, another remand is required for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him bedridden, confined to his immediate premises, or unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. Therefore, he is not eligible for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status.