Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an improper Notice of Disagreement form, and a new SOC must be issued.

The Veteran's residuals of a fractured left collarbone are rated at 40 percent, effective from October 19, 2011. The Board also granted the Veteran's TDIU claim as his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension. The case is now back with the Board for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's cause of death is deemed to be due to a cerebrovascular accident, which was found to have been substantially or materially contributed by service-connected conditions including diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 has been dismissed as moot since the greater benefit of service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to uncertainty about the specific dates of all periods of Active Duty Training and Indefinite Non-Training Duty (ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA) in the Veteran's Reserve service. The claims will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's post-concussive headaches have been granted a disability rating of 50 percent.,Service connection for hypertension, secondary to service-connected post-concussive headaches, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA, finding that a VA medical examination and opinion are necessary to comprehensively evaluate his claim. The issues include determining if OSA is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and hypertension.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral foot, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for asthma, hypothyroidism, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, migraine headaches, back disability, left knee strain, right knee strain, right knee recurrent subluxation, left knee recurrent subluxation, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the earliest effective date is December 19, 2016.,The Veteran's claims for asthma, hypothyroidism, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, migraine headaches, back disability, left knee strain, right knee strain, right knee recurrent subluxation, left knee recurrent subluxation, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the earliest effective date is December 19, 2016.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA examination for the Veteran's PTSD claim, as the July 2018 VA examiner did not provide sufficient rationale and considered all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection from August 10, 2022, under the PACT Act. However, his claim for earlier effective date due to PTSD aggravation is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and has remanded the issues of rating in excess of 20 percent for a back disability, compensable rating for metacarpal repair of the right foot, service connection for hypertension, and service connection for adult onset diabetes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen several service connection claims, including for bilateral eye disability, psychiatric disorder, OSA, hypertension, cervical spine, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left wrist disability (CTS), right wrist disability (CTS), left lower extremity disability (residuals of left femur fracture), gout, sinus disability (sinusitis), breathing disability (allergic rhinitis), colon cancer, colon polyps, hemorrhoids, and H. Pylori infection (claimed as stomach disability). These claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension and partial paralysis of the right anterior saphenous nerve status post right knee surgery have been rated as noncompensable. The Board has found that a compensable rating is not warranted for these conditions.,The issue of an increased rating for right lateral epicondylitis is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused by his prescribed hydrochlorothiazide.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for IBS, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart valve disorder, and bilateral leg pain. The claims are now remanded due to new evidence suggesting a possible link between these conditions and the Veteran's presumed exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II and its secondary effects. The claims are related as they all involve diabetes mellitus as a primary condition.

The Board has remanded the case for a heart condition addendum opinion to determine if the Veteran's heart disorder is a congenital defect or disease, and whether it was aggravated during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, hypertension (previously claimed as high blood pressure), skin disability, and plantar fasciitis due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine appropriate ratings and service connection for his claimed conditions.