Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension and melanoma skin cancer may be related to herbicide exposure during service, but more evidence is needed for a definitive decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for hypertension.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims due to his death, including service connection and increased rating appeals.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation have been granted service connection. The low back and left knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted.,Additional development is required to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) are dismissed since they were withdrawn. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension, GERD, lead poisoning, itchy skin, diabetes mellitus, headaches, and anxiety disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board is remanding the claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions due to a lack of VA treatment records and pending eligibility determinations regarding substitution. The appellant must provide notice on whether she wishes to pursue her claims under accrued benefits or as a substitute.

The Veteran's tinnitus, pleural abnormalities due to asbestos exposure, and genital warts are all granted service connection. His hypertension is presumed to be related to service.,Service connection for cluster headaches on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those involving hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gastrointestinal disorders, GERD, erectile dysfunction, and a skin condition. The reasons include obtaining SSA records, scheduling examinations, and addressing whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of OSA, GERD, gastrointestinal disorder, erectile dysfunction, and a skin condition have also been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted in either case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches, hypertension, asthma, sleep apnea or a sleep disorder, and vision loss. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or that they are not related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension did not manifest during or as a result of his service, including periods of INACDUTRA. The Board also determined that there was no evidence of aggravation beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including spondylosis, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and hypertension, have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment since August 20, 2015.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, hypertension associated with diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that TDIU is warranted based on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and the appropriate date of diagnosis. The Veteran will need to provide information about his medical history, including any in-service training he received, and a VA examination will be conducted to determine these details.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits due to incomplete development. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any vocational rehabilitation records and readjudicate the claim, considering the August 2016 memorandum decision from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the issues have not yet been recertified for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, prostate cancer, skin condition, diabetes mellitus, and pituitary gland tumor due to lack of complete service personnel records.