Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and medical opinions to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of his claimed conditions. The issues include service connection for onychomycosis, skin disability of the back (presumed exposure), hypertension (secondary to diabetes mellitus Type II), and peripheral neuropathy of various extremities.

The claim of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for a heart condition, to include atrial fibrillation (claimed as ischemic heart disease, heart disease, and coronary artery disease) is dismissed.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher. The claim for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is denied as moot due to the existing compensable rating for hypertension.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for reopening of service connection for hypertension and PTSD, as well as remanded several other issues including sleep apnea, kidney disorder, neurological disabilities, peripheral neuropathies, and radiculopathies. Service connection is denied for liver disorder, heart disorder, right upper extremity neurological disability, left upper extremity neurological disability, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The claims for service connection of right leg disorder, left leg disorder, sinusitis, and hypertension have been dismissed.,The claim for service connection of sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. The Veteran's current diagnosis is linked to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of pseudofolliculitis barbae and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and stroke, finding no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to service.

This decision denies an increased rating for OSA and grants a TDIU. The Board finds the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity (BLE) radiculopathy, OSA, PTSD, LLE peripheral neuropathy, RLE peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension do not warrant staged ratings as his symptoms have not resulted in chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or the presence of a tracheostomy. The Board also finds that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.,PTSD has been rated 50 percent disabling since September 16, 2008, and 70 percent disabling since October 24, 2011. Lumbar spine disability was rated 10 percent disabling as of April 20, 2004; LLE peripheral neuropathy was rated 20 percent disabling as of March 20, 2012; RLE peripheral neuropathy was rated 20 percent disabling as of March 20, 2012; and hypertension was rated non-compensable as of September 8, 2005. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.,PTSD has been rated 50 percent disabling since September 16, 2008, and 70 percent disabling since October 24, 2011. Lumbar spine disability was rated 10 percent disabling as of April 20, 2004; LLE peripheral neuropathy was rated 20 percent disabling as of March 20, 2012; RLE peripheral neuropathy was rated 20 percent disabling as of March 20, 2012; and hypertension was rated non-compensable as of September 8, 2005. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

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

The Veteran's claim for SMC (o) and need for regular aid and attendance was granted. The Veteran has been in receipt of the correct payment for his combined disability rating since August 2005.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide any evidence linking his hypertension to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded due to lack of recent medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and/or pulmonary hypertension, finding no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance from another person, warranting SMC at the aid and attendance rate. As this is a greater benefit than SMC on account of being housebound, his claim for SMC based on housebound status is dismissed.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated at 10 percent since May 2003, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate throughout the appeals period.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for various conditions, including heart disability, hypertension, lymph node disability (including lymphoma), and diabetes mellitus type II, all potentially due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's claim is reopened on new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is being remanded to obtain additional information and conduct further examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left eye refractive error, vitreous syneresis, and ocular hypertension due to a lack of clarity in the VA examiner's opinions regarding whether these conditions were aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected cataracts. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, heel spurs, pes planus, and hallux valgus, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. Service connection for hypertension was denied.