Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension had its onset in service. The case is being returned for further evaluation and a new opinion from an appropriate VA medical professional.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including chronic pain and tendonitis, bilateral foot disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, PTSD, low back disability, hypercholesterolemia, sleep apnea, and a rating for dysthymia and panic disorder. The Board also ordered additional VA treatment records to be obtained.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected, but remands for further development to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's hypertension, TBI, and migraines are all granted. The hypertension is linked to service due to PTSD. The TBI was incurred in combat. The migraine headaches meet the criteria for a 30% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and hypertension are considered a contributory cause of his death from blunt impact to the head, resulting in basilar skull fractures with subdural hemorrhage.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II due to a lack of personnel records verifying herbicide exposure in Panama. The Veteran's claims are related to possible herbicide exposure during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for multiple myeloma, high blood pressure, and residuals of a right eye injury as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

Service connection is granted for adjustment disorder with disturbance of mood and conduct. Service connection is remanded for hepatitis C and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, and TIA/stroke residuals due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion.

The Veteran's lower back disability, diagnosed as sacroiliitis and degenerative disc disease, is related to service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cause of death was not attributable to service, any incident of service, or a service-connected disability. Service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA opinion regarding hypertension, and because of the Veteran's Vietnam service. The examiner is required to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether hypertension is related to service, including herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disability, and residuals of staphylococcus infection as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied service connection for compression fracture and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,Service connection was denied as there is no evidence that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise linked to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not related to service. The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 30 percent for left hand cold injury residuals from May 20, 2013.,The Veteran's right hand and right knee disabilities have been remanded as the VA examiners did not assess additional limitation of function due to flare-ups during their examinations.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various conditions related to his military service, including cancer, shoulder issues, taste loss, numbness, fatigue, psychiatric disorders, and other health concerns. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left shoulder disability, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness of the face and neck. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a condition manifested by loss of sense of taste, including any related conditions such as burned tongue or numbness of the face and neck. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a condition manifested by numbness of the left side of the face, neck, and chest, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or fatigue. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a condition manifested by chronic fatigue, including anemia and any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders, as well as any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for residual scars related to cancer treatment, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a disability manifested by neurological deficits, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a thyroid disorder, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for fatty liver (hepatic steatosis), including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a heart disorder, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, including diarrhea and constipation, as well as any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for acid reflux, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a sleep disorder, including sleep apnea and other manner of sleep disorders, as well as any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for erectile dysfunction, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, he does not meet the eligibility requirements as his eye disability is not severe enough to qualify him under the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.808. The Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant are also denied due to lack of qualifying disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied service connection for testicular cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus. The issue of secondary service connection for hypertension to include obesity and bilateral knee disorders is remanded.