Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was aggravated by his service-connected right hip and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete development of service personnel records and treatment records, including those related to National Guard service. The Veteran's conditions are left elbow, shoulder, knee, ankle, rib, abdominal pain, forehead scar, rash on face, forehead dryness, head injury, hyperventilation, asthma, cervical spine disability, left knee, hypertension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's aortic valve disorder, aortic aneurysm, and hypertension are not service connected as secondary to his cardiovascular condition or PTSD. The case is being sent back for further review.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are denied as there is no competent evidence of a nexus between the claimed disabilities and his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip and remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to lack of a VA opinion addressing whether it is related to or aggravated by service-connected cardiac ventricular arrhythmia.

The Veteran's spousal aid and attendance allowance for accrued benefits purposes is granted. The DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, to include based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in multiple rating decisions, and the service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death are both remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle and foot conditions, as well as hypertension. The remand requires obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service, which could affect his claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's hypercholesterolemia claim is denied. A 10 percent rating for hypertension is granted, effective from July 31, 2013. Service connection for depressive disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claim for reopening of service connection for hemoccult positive stools has been granted. The claims for service connection for a sinus disorder, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, insomnia, and psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder) are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to potential exposure to PCBs during service at Fort McClellan. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with an examination to determine if there is a link between her conditions and military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and renal disease, finding that the conditions did not manifest to a compensable degree in service or within presumptive periods, continuity of symptomatology was not established, and there was no causal relationship between the conditions and service. The Veteran's hypertension is presumed unrelated to herbicide exposure, while his renal disease is not on the list of diseases associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for skin cancer, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss. Additional medical evidence is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence. The Veteran is presumed exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam, but no presumptive service connection can be granted for hypertension or PTSD.

The Board denied the claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, severance of PTSD service connection, and denial of DM, vision disability, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for hypertension, entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of gallbladder removal, and entitlement to an effective date earlier than March 12, 2007, for grant of service connection for hypovolemic anemia.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of Vietnam service and exposure to Agent Orange, a VA examination, and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of a VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran is presumed exposed to herbicides during his Vietnam service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for asthma, hypertension, GERD with small bowel obstruction, and lumbar strain as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in an August 2018 written statement.

The Board has remanded all issues due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for new examinations. The Veteran's PTSD, depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and malaria are among the conditions being reviewed.