Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board denied claims for hypertension, PTSD, hepatitis C, and a bilateral ear disability. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) was reopened based on new evidence provided by the Veteran's attorney.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private treatment records and SSA disability determination records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding service connection for a sleep disorder, as the Veteran was first diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea in 2010. The hypertension issue remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, heart condition, PTSD, and TDIU due to a failure to ensure that all outstanding VA treatment records are associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, posttraumatic stress disorder, hypertension, a respiratory disorder, and erectile dysfunction have all been granted. The Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam and is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents during his service. His current diagnoses are consistent with these presumptions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran has PTSD. The service connection claims are also being addressed as they may be related to an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a skin condition due to in-service acne treatment, and hypertension due to duty service. The VA is instructed to obtain private medical records related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, lung disability, heart disability, hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, and prostate cancer, are remanded due to the need for further verification of in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine disorder, respiratory disorder, cardiac disorder (including hypertension), and epilepsy due to conflicting evidence and need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and hypertension (HTN) as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular accident, erectile dysfunction (secondary to prostate cancer), urinary incontinence (secondary to prostate cancer), hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been withdrawn.,The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of erectile dysfunction or urinary incontinence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (hypertensive heart disease and hypertension) do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for sleep apnea and increased ratings for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left foot hallux valgus deformity, and hypertension. The Veteran's representative contends that the Veteran’s sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for hypertension and TDIU due to lack of recent VA examination, failure to report for the examination, and inextricability with the hypertension claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative changes with diffuse disc bulge, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and service, as well as secondary service connection for diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to lung cancer, COPD and hypertension as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including skin cancer and hypertension. The remaining issues are also being remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claim of total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as it is inextricably intertwined with the claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury and hypertension. Additional development is needed to obtain relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD, warranting the grant of service connection for both conditions.