Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not considered the principal or a contributory cause of his death. Therefore, his DIC claim based on the cause of death is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to an undelivered February 2018 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The SSOC was sent back to VA as undeliverable, and a new attempt at sending it is required.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension prior to October 2, 2014, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence since the November 2014 supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy were denied. Service connection was granted for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes, but denied for left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, finding no evidence that these conditions began during service or were related to his military service. The Veteran's left testicle epididymitis was also denied as a compensable rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding tinnitus and hypertension, so the cases are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as due to herbicide exposure, is remanded. A VA opinion is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran’s hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for recurrent acne was denied due to his failure to report for a VA examination.,Claims of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, Gulf War syndrome, and vascular condition were previously denied as the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction (ED), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and depression as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The claims are being remanded due to the need for medical nexus opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of narcolepsy and remanded several other issues including sleep apnea, hypertension, hepatitis C, chronic kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate gland, thyroid dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for arterial hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or earlier effective dates.,The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD, hypertension, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss on December 26, 2013, but his claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial 70 percent disability rating. The Board finds the evidence insufficient to grant a higher rating or remand for further examination and opinion regarding hypertension, gastric ulcer, and Helicobacter pylori infection.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded three claims: hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of lower extremities. The Veteran's hypertension may be related to his service-connected PTSD, and the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy may be related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn.,His claims for hypertension, recurrent lipomas, and elevated blood sugar have been reopened due to new evidence. His claim for service connection for hypertension is granted, as it is presumed related to his Vietnam service exposure.,His claim for service connection for recurrent lipomas is also granted, based on the presumption of herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,The Veteran's kidney cancer has been granted service connection, presumptively due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune during his military service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder remains under review as a remand for an addendum VA examination is required.

The Veteran's hypertension disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess its current severity. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the increased rating claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hypertension and any period of active service. The Board also found that hypertension did not worsen due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's cerebrovascular accident is granted as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease. The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further evaluation due to its potential relationship with Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted. The Board is remanding the cases of hypertension and nasopharyngeal cancer due to exposure to herbicide agent, as well as any asbestos and environmental hazards claims.