Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The issues of service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy left lower extremity remain on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded as new VA treatment records may provide relevant information.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and ischemic stroke were denied as they did not meet the criteria for service connection. His claim for prostate cancer, however, was granted based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, generalized anxiety disorder, tinnitus, coronary artery disease with coronary artery bypass graft residuals, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a midline chest scar, make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension was not service-connected as it did not originate in service or until years after separation, and there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service. The Board denied service connection for hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension did not have its onset during a period of active duty or inactive duty training. The Board concluded there was no evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's hypertension and his military service.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for coronary artery disease, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and neuropathy of the lower extremities have been granted. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the aggravation of hypertension by diabetes mellitus and denied a rating in excess of 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hypertension and TDIU due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of herbicide/pesticide exposure in Fort Knox, Kentucky from October 1966 to December 1966. The AOJ is instructed to make reasonable efforts to obtain this information and provide it to the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as they have no jurisdiction.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and nerve damage to fingers, finding that the conditions did not have their onset during service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found no evidence of herbicide exposure related to these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and a TDIU was granted from July 29, 2009 until April 2016. The rating for PTSD remains unchanged since the effective date of the increased rating decision.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease with syncope is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 7007. The Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as noncompensable (0%) throughout the period on appeal due to his diastolic pressure remaining below 100 and systolic pressure being between 100-160. The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 10% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from January 7, 2014.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated as 10% since October 1, 2008. The Board found that the disability is most analogous to mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve and thus warrants a 10% rating.

The Veteran's hypertension and COPD with shortness of breath are not service connected as they did not begin during active duty or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Gulf War presumption of service connection under 38 U.S.C. § 1117 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 does not apply.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, finding no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after his military service. The Board also found that any current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral painful hips, knees, ankles, sleep apnea and high blood pressure are remanded due to the need for further development regarding his service dates and VA examinations.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent for the entire period on appeal. The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or in-service exposure to herbicide agents.