Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran's claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The remand requires obtaining additional VA treatment records, including those from the VistA system, and providing an addendum opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's HTN warrants a 10 percent rating, but not higher. The issue of an initial rating higher than 10 percent for HTN is remanded due to lack of recent medical records and need for further examination. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his military service and his current condition. The Board also found that hypertension is not among the conditions presumed to be related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's pneumonia is granted as service connected. The Board has remanded several other issues for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and recurrent sleep disability (obstructive sleep apnea) due to exposure, but did not specify a rating or effective date. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for PTSD was also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for residuals of left leg fracture. The claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus due to inconsistencies in his previous audiometric testing. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions as there is no evidence of a nexus between them and his military service.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II and has remanded his claims for hypertension, cataracts, urinary tract disability (claimed as kidney condition), bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy due to potential service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, as well as their secondary relationship. The VA will obtain a medical opinion to determine if these conditions are related to active duty service.

For the rating period prior to March 26, 2014, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the threshold requirements for TDIU and they do not render him unemployable.,From March 26, 2014, the Veteran is in receipt of a 100% disability rating for aortic stenosis with stable angina, status-post heart valve replacement. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU from this date is dismissed as moot due to his already receiving SMC benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions from a VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his in-service heat stroke.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.,The Veteran's tinea pedis is currently rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the General Rating Formula for the Skin.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, hypertension, and bilateral hand numbness due to unresolved matters related to the character of discharge from the appellant's second period of service. The Board also ordered further development regarding the Office of Inspector General reports.

The Veteran's severe loss of vision in the left eye is not considered to be due to VA treatment, and there is no evidence linking his current condition to any fault on the part of VA.,Hypertension was not found to be related to service or herbicide exposure. The claim for secondary hypertension to PTSD is also denied.,IBS was not linked to service or PTSD. The claim for secondary IBS to PTSD is also denied.,Right hand and left hand disabilities were not found to be due to service or herbicide exposure. The claims for these conditions are also denied.,The Veteran's hypertension, IBS, right hand, and left hand disabilities do not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to herbicide exposure. Service connection is also remanded for residuals of malaria and COPD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, sleep apnea, headaches, and hypertension due to lack of medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, hypertension, and entitlement to TDIU due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right elbow decompression lateral epicondylitis claim was denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent, nor a compensable rating for the surgical scar. The hypertension claim was denied due to blood pressure readings that did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The erectile dysfunction claim was denied because there was no objective evidence of penile deformity. Service connection for residuals of an injury to the third and fourth fingers, right hand was also denied as there is no current diagnosis or functional impairment.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reconsider the claim for service connection for hypertension. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred in service due to the Veteran's active duty period of more than 90 days. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss disability.