Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to potential exposure to herbicides at the U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. The Veteran's entire Official Military Personnel File and unit histories must be obtained, along with verification of his alleged Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and chronic headaches. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection for the respiratory disorder claimed as an upper airway cough syndrome is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, left and right lower extremity neuropathy due to herbicide exposure. The claims are being returned for additional development including addendum medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's current diagnoses are obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension.

The rating for hypertension was reduced from 60% to 40%, but this reduction was improper due to the failure to follow proper procedural requirements. The Veteran's compensation payments were restored to the previous level of 60%.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is not found to be in need of aid and attendance or housebound, thus denying entitlement to Special Monthly Pension (SMP).

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder disorders, left and right thumb disorders, and a neck disorder, to include as due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's current diagnoses of arthritis were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is granted, but a higher rating for the condition is denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and sleep disorder are not shown to be related to service. Service connection for right leg disorder, left leg disorder, left foot disorder, and right foot disorder is denied. Service connection for hypertension is denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and stroke due to potential in-service etiology. The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea are denied as not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension) due to lack of a current diagnosis. The case was remanded for further examination regarding the Veteran's hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is currently at 100%, but the Board finds that he has not been unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, as evidenced by his continued employment and participation in vocational rehabilitation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to accrued benefits, including service connection and rating for various conditions. The appellant is being asked to provide additional information regarding private treatment records and a VA addendum opinion on the cause of death.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of onset during service or within one year post-service, and the current disability does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.,A 30 percent evaluation is granted for tension headaches due to characteristic prostrating attacks occurring more than once a month over the last several months.,The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is evaluated at 50 percent as it causes occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, likely PTSD, was granted. Service connection for tinnitus and hypertension were also granted. However, the claims for a cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and other conditions remain denied due to lack of new material evidence.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss based on new and material evidence is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension (HTN) based on new and material evidence is granted.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than June 28, 2013, for grant of service connection for left lower extremity (LLE) peripheral neuropathy is denied.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than June 28, 2013, for grant of service connection for right lower extremity (RLE) peripheral neuropathy is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating determinations due to pending matters regarding his character of discharge from active duty.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various psychiatric disorders and other conditions. The main reasons are that VA examiners have not provided sufficient opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's COPD and hypertension were denied as not related to service.,PTSD was remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected diabetic nephropathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing notice under the VCAA regarding hypertension as associated with diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include back disability with sciatica, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, and erectile dysfunction.