Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to total disability for individual unemployability (TDIU) due to conflicting assertions regarding whether the Veteran requires more time to submit a VA Form 21-8940 and whether it is required at all. Further, a retrospective VA opinion must be obtained that provides an analysis of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability since June 2000.

The Veteran's hypertension and cardiovascular diseases (MI and atrial fibrillation) are granted as secondary to the service-connected sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for erectile dysfunction and hypertension have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, as there was no physical deformity of the penis. For hypertension, the evidence showed predominantly diastolic pressure at 100 or more requiring continuous medication, corresponding to a 10% rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now considered. The Board has granted service connection for OSA, GERD, headaches, sinusitis, rhinitis, and throat disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, left wrist disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine DDD, hypertension, heart disability (claimed as a heart attack and stent), gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), and skin cancer due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's heart disability, which includes coronary artery disease with recurrent non-segment elevation myocardial infarction (heart disability), is now rated at 60 percent. The claim for service connection for hypertension has been remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum available rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied a higher rating due to lack of evidence showing diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease/hiatal hernia was denied because it did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not etiologically related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The Veteran's skin cancer claim was remanded due to the PACT Act requiring VA to provide an examination and medical opinion regarding its relationship to herbicide agent exposure.,The Board found that new evidence from the PACT Act required a de novo review of the skin cancer service connection claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent, as the combined range of motion was not less than 170 degrees.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatica is rated at 10 percent, as it did not result in more than mild incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, as diastolic pressure was not predominantly 100 or more and systolic pressure was not predominantly 160 or more.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of hypertension due to the grant of service connection in a previous decision, and there is no jurisdiction to address issues related to effective date or rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are granted. The decision is based on the PACT Act presumption of exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Service connection is also remanded for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for hypertension and sleep apnea have been denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, finding that exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune led directly to the development of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's in-service blood pressure check and his lay statements regarding potential inaccuracies in recorded readings.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for hypertension, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 7101, while her bilateral knee disabilities were evaluated based on limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, which is currently service-connected under the PACT Act.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current knee disorders and diabetes mellitus. The claims for service connection for hypertension, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and diabetes mellitus are REMANDED.

The Board has found that there was substantial compliance issues with the prior remand directives and thus requires another remand for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of any psychiatric disabilities diagnosed during the appeal period.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. The issues of glaucoma, peripheral neuropathy in upper and lower extremities are remanded for further development.