Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's claims for COPD with mild asthma, hypertension, and gastroenteritis have been denied as there is no evidence to support their onset during service or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral wrist disabilities, bilateral knee disabilities, and hypertension as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, prostate disorder (benign prostate hypertrophy), loss of vision, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, skin disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all granted. The specific determinations include secondary service connection based on diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension due to inadequate opinions from the same examiner who provided previous opinions. The case must be returned to the Board for further adjudication.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for hypertension, which was secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder NOS.

The Veteran's claim for an extension beyond August 31, 2015 for a temporary total rating due to right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis disability following surgery was denied. The Veteran also met the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death. The appeal is remanded for a medical opinion regarding whether any service-connected condition contributed to the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and updated treatment records. The claims for service connection are related to conditions that may be related to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, Type II are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and vocational rehabilitation records, as well as for medical examinations in connection with his bilateral ankle disorder and hypertension.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is service-connected, but his hypertension and respiratory disorder claims are not established. The Board will need to obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service and determine if a current respiratory disorder exists.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service. The claim for increased rating of left shoulder disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are denied. The Board found that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions, and the medical opinions did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to show a direct relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, finding that there is not enough evidence to support this claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for vaginismus and hypertension, finding no current disability or evidence of a nexus to service. The knee and ankle disorders were also not granted as service connected.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including hypertension. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by herbicide exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, arthritis of the hips, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, a heart disorder, cold weather injuries, prostate cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and depression), finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.