Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to heart disability, hypertension disability, skin disability, and cervical disability. The issues include whether these conditions are related to his active service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to the Veteran's exposure to environmental contaminants at George Air Force Base. The claims include chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disability, hypertension, renal disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus type II, and eye disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those for a jaw condition, left and right hip conditions, left and right knee conditions, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, liver condition, kidney condition, and TDIU. The reasons for these remands include the need to provide a Statement of the Case (SOC) and obtain medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection claims and rating determinations for various disabilities. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are denied as they were likely due to his post-service employment. Service connection is granted for anemia but the skin disability, hypertension, cataracts (right eye), heart disability, kidney disability, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of left lower extremity require further examination and evidence.

The appeal of service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, left lower extremity peripheral vascular arterial and venous insufficiency, right lower extremity peripheral vascular arterial and venous insufficiency, acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, vision disorder, and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including right hand disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and right leg disability. The Board also ordered a remand for additional examinations regarding lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, depressive disorder, hypertension, heart disability, an earlier effective date for service connection of left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU. The Veteran's claims are also inextricably intertwined with the issues being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension and sleep apnea have been dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, back disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension began during his service and is related to it, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension due to the need for additional medical opinions and the possible existence of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The effective date of service connection is not being granted as it was received on July 11, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are currently rated as 50 percent disabling, hypertension is not service-connected, and the Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and the issues of service connection for a back disability, left leg disability, hypertension, GERD, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to incomplete evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and hypertension claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a thyroid gland condition, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II was denied. The Veteran's phobic disorder is now rated at 100 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and cataracts as due to exposure to herbicides was denied. The claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II was granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal for hypertension. Lung cancer was granted service connection, but only as due to asbestos exposure during service. The issue of respiratory condition is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's hypertension had its onset during active service and is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for hypertension due to service-connected prostate cancer and/or PTSD, as well as his exposure to herbicide. The case is sent back for a new VA examination to determine if the hypertension was caused by or aggravated by these conditions.