Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases of COPD, sleep apnea, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus, type II for further inquiry into the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while stationed in Korea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of hypertension during service, which is a prerequisite for establishing service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, major depressive disorder, and hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension). The claim for reopening of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination addendum opinion regarding his sleep disability, which may be related to service-connected hypertension and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and heart disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete records and verification of his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes), obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes, hypertension as secondary to diabetes, and renal dysfunction as secondary to diabetes are all granted. The Board found the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for breathing problems, a spot on the lung, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, and acid reflux. The issues are inextricably intertwined with his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's preexisting hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM), hypertension, and obesity were denied as they are not related to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange, lead, PCB or other chemicals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, GERD, voiding dysfunction due to implant surgery associated with erectile dysfunction, PTSD, and TDIU as part of the increased rating issues. The Veteran is asked to provide updated VA treatment records and complete a VA Form 21-8940. He is also scheduled for VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected as his heart disease and hypertension were not linked to any incident during active service, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for back disorder (claimed as arthritis), eye disorder, hearing loss, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted in some cases, but denied on the merits. The decisions are mixed as to whether certain conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded two issues: entitlement to service connection for hypertension secondary to insomnia and entitlement to service connection for a respiratory condition. The Veteran's representative argued that the hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected insomnia, but an additional medical opinion is needed. For the respiratory condition, VA treatment records since September 2011 need to be obtained.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) and increased rating for tinea versicolor and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to herbicide exposure, and remanded the issues of increased rating for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension and current headache disability are granted service connection. The lung condition claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for left knee, ankle, and foot disorders, tinnitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, and migraine headaches. The VA is directed to obtain relevant medical records and schedule examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied prior to June 22, 2016 and granted thereafter. The issue of service connection for hypertension is referred back to the RO. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with other claims.