Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of death, which may be related to cobalt radiation treatment or exposure at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, cholesterol problems, and hypertension have been denied. The Veteran's claim of increased rating for TBI has also been remanded.,Service connection for psychiatric disability, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of evidence regarding his exposure to ionizing radiation and missing service treatment records. The Veteran is also required to undergo medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because there was no evidence of a diagnosed condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened, but the claim is still denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to cause or aggravate his headaches, which are granted as a separate disability. The other conditions have not been linked to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to new and material evidence submitted by the appellant. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s hypertension disability.

The appeal for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is dismissed.,The appeals for a higher initial rating for the gastrointestinal disorder and hypertension are dismissed. The Veteran's current diagnoses of hypertension, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss have been considered but do not meet the criteria for service connection as they were not shown to be incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and the Board finds that he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cause of death is not service-connected and he was not rated totally disabled by VA at any time.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, urethral stricture, and kidney stones. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran is seeking presumptive service connection based on his presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's tinnitus is denied as there is no probative nexus linking his current complaints to military noise exposure.,Service connection for a bladder disability due to Agent Orange exposure is not granted as there is no evidence of such disability during service or within one year after separation.,Sleep apnea, claimed as secondary to service-connected lung cancer, is remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding its etiology.,Heart disease (hypertension) is remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding its etiology with respect to the Veteran's service-connected lung cancer.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding its etiology with respect to Agent Orange exposure.,Diverticulitis, gallbladder calculus, kidney calculus, and skin disability are remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding their etiology with respect to Agent Orange exposure.,Gallbladder calculus is remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding its etiology with respect to Agent Orange exposure.,Kidney calculus is remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding its etiology with respect to Agent Orange exposure.,Skin disability is remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding its etiology with respect to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection for a back disability, variously claimed as spondylosis multilevel of the lumbar spine and as a lower back injury, is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability, hypertension, or PTSD. Service connection was also denied for left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet determined whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's sinusitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether Abilify aggravated the Veteran's hypertension or stroke, and for obtaining authorization for VA treatment records from Methodist Charlton Medical Center.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and affording the Veteran VA examinations. The claim of service connection for hypertension and irregular heartbeats is being remanded as well as the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to Agent Orange while serving in the territorial sea of Vietnam. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination and further development is needed to determine if he served within the Republic of Vietnam, including on ships such as USS Juneau.