Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that the Veteran's internal hemorrhoids, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension should be remanded for further examination and opinion to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and requests for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection as it began during his active duty. The right knee disability, however, did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and left knee disability due to incomplete VA examinations, lack of consideration of lay statements, and need for further medical opinions regarding etiology.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hypertension (HTN), to include as due to herbicide exposure, need further examination and evaluation.

The reduction in rating to 10 percent for ischemic heart disease was improper, and requirements for restoration of the 30 percent rating have been met. The increased rating claim for IHD is denied.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions, including post-polio syndrome and its secondary effects, due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current cardiovascular disability, including syncope, atrial septal defect, orthostatic hypertension, mitral valve prolapse and mitral regurgitation, that is etiologically related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to secure addendum opinions regarding the etiology of the dizzy spell condition, hypertension, and nephrolithiasis.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a Joint Motion for Partial Remand, and now needs to determine if HTN and ED are secondary to PTSD.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's facial cancer, tremors, and hypertension. The examiner is to consider whether these conditions are related to his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any point during the appeal period.,The Veteran's TDIU claim due to service-connected hypertension was also denied as his combined disability rating did not meet the schedular threshold requirement.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The Veteran's hypertension was not related to service, as evidenced by in-service blood pressure readings that did not meet the required diagnosis for hypertension. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with CFS during the pendency of these claims.,For left thigh limitation of extension, a noncompensable rating is assigned under Diagnostic Code 5003-5251. For left thigh limitation of flexion, a 20 percent rating is assigned under Diagnostic Code 5003-5252. For impairment of the left thigh, a 10 percent rating is assigned under Diagnostic Code 5003-5253.,The Board denied increased ratings for left thigh limitation of extension and flexion, as well as for impairment of the left thigh.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes, finding that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology and exposure history.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension. The issues are related to service connection for hypertension and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it is not a disability for which VA benefits can be awarded.,Service connection for headaches secondary to the service-connected coronary artery disease is granted. The Veteran was also granted TDIU effective June 15, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability and hypertension. The examiner is to consider whether her service-connected knee disabilities aggravated her obesity, which was a substantial factor in causing her back disability or hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right and left knee disorders, and a left shoulder disorder due to additional development being necessary. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension due to a disagreement with the October 2017 VA medical opinion, which was based on inaccurate medical history. The case is now pending for further review.