Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus due to incomplete verification of his Reserve service dates. The claims will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for upper left arm or shoulder disability, hepatitis C, and hypertension due to insufficient opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the effective dates are set to the date of receipt of the claim. The rating for gastroesophageal ulcer disease has also been increased.

The Board has found that the VA examinations for sleep apnea and hypertension were inadequate, and thus remanded these matters for further development.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, a headache condition, hypertension, sinusitis/rhinitis, and COPD have been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's heart disease claim. The skin condition, hypertension, and hematuria claims are denied as there is no direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous directives and a need for another medical opinion regarding whether hypertension is proximately due to or aggravated by pain medicines or sleeplessness associated with service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The Board has dismissed the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The VA must obtain all outstanding VA treatment records, including those scanned into the imaging system.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion.,The Board is requesting additional information from VA or private healthcare providers regarding the etiology of various health issues, including sleep disorders, skin conditions, cardiovascular problems, and metabolic disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headache disorder and hypertension, as well as a higher evaluation for her tinnitus. The Board found that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for asthma and hypertension, with a focus on addressing the Veteran's in-service exposures to sandstorms and toxic gases.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gall bladder disorder, kidney disorder, erectile dysfunction, prostate disorder, and hypertension, all of which were not found to be related to active service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for a restored rating of 10% for his left shoulder scar is granted. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, and the issue remains pending. Service connection for neck disorder (cervical pseudoarthrosis and cervical spine arthritis) as secondary to left shoulder disability is granted. Service connection for cervical radiculopathy on the left side as secondary to the neck condition is also granted. The claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 1, 2014. The Board denied the claim for TDIU as there was no evidence of unemployment.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection claims and evaluations for various conditions. Effective dates have been granted for PTSD, nephrolithiasis, tinnitus, lumbar degenerative disc disease, obstructive sleep apnea, unequal leg length, and hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 and service connection for the cause of his death due to end-stage renal disease, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding no causal connection between his current condition and his military service. The Veteran was not diagnosed with hypertension during or within one year after service, and there is no evidence of a chronic disease listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a).

The Board has granted service connection for dementia, vertigo (lightheadedness/dizziness), migraines, and abdominal scar. The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, bilateral bunionectomies, gout, hypothyroidism, heart disease, hypertension, left hand arthritis, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and lumbar spine disability are denied as not related to service.