Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. The cases of low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, ED, an eye disorder, a stroke, cardiomegaly, bilateral flat feet, and enlarged prostate. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.,Specifically, the Veteran’s diabetic nephropathy with hypertension was rated at 80 percent and no higher rating could be assigned due to lack of evidence of dialysis or markedly decreased function of kidney systems.

The Board has decided that the record would benefit from obtaining medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to service or was aggravated by a pre-existing heart condition. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected hypertension was denied as his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, right knee, left knee, right foot, left foot, neurological disorders (fibromyalgia and toxic encephalopathy), CFS, heart disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss. The appeals are now pending with the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension (HTN) as secondary to the Veteran's major depressive disorder with posttraumatic stress and anxiety features. The evidence shows that these conditions have been aggravated by his psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lung conditions, specifically chronic bronchitis and asthma. The Veteran is presumed to have been sound at service enlistment for asthma.

The Veteran's diabetes, prostate cancer residuals, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are currently rated at 20 percent each. The Board found no evidence to warrant higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus (DM) has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.,Specifically, the Board concluded that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. For hypertension, the Board noted that it was diagnosed prior to the onset of service-connected type II diabetes mellitus (DM).

The Veteran's hypertension, back disorder, skin rash in anal area, allergies, and prostate disorder were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.,There is no evidence of these conditions during the Veteran's active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected disabilities, as well as presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, Lyme disease, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, closed head injury, and TBI are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additionally, the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for GERD and heart disorder was granted. The applications for lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are related to his service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, including arteriosclerotic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral retinopathy, neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, as well as issues related to his service-connected diabetes. The remand requires obtaining relevant reports from the U.S. Army and other agencies.

The Veteran's renal failure is related to his service-connected hypertension, and the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) has been denied. The Veteran does not have left hand tremors or a current diagnosis of heart disease. His hypertension is currently rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria.