Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension has been reopened, and the Board finds that his hypertension is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated beyond natural progression by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and/or residuals of a quadricep injury. The issues of increased ratings for superficial varicosities of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral vascular disease (PVD) of the bilateral lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions on whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and whether it is related to herbicide agent exposure. The claim will be reviewed with new medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and clarification of his exposure history, as well as additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension may be related to his service-connected PTSD, but needs further evaluation by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for GERD and hypertension are being remanded due to the submission of new VA treatment records that were not previously considered by the RO.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to herbicide exposure, including for cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure, multiple melanomas, and PTSD. The VA is instructed to obtain all outstanding medical records from private providers and VA facilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, as the previous VA examinations were inadequate. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral knee disability, chronic irregular heartbeat, and hypertension, all potentially related to his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for cervical spine disorder, headache disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), lower left extremity neuropathy, and upper left extremity neuropathy have been granted. Service connection is now established for these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension has not met the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as his blood pressure readings have not consistently been at or above 160/90.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, hypogonadism (claimed as low testosterone), type 2 diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and irritable bowel syndrome is granted. The issues of service connection for a sleep disorder to include sleep apnea and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and a neurological disorder due to Agent Orange exposure. The remand requires new VA examinations to address whether these conditions are related to military service, including consideration of an 'abnormal' blood pressure measurement at separation and a March 2016 letter from the Veteran's private physician.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right foot disabilities, hypertension, scars of the forehead and right wrist, chronic headaches, and sleep apnea. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to his presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, skin disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability were denied as there was no evidence of a direct relationship to service or any recognized presumptive conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension due to an inadequate examination by a physician’s assistant. The Veteran is required to be examined by a medical doctor who has not previously examined him.

The Board denied service connection for left leg tumor with scar, heart condition, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of these conditions during service or related to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for abnormal mitral valve, to include as secondary to congestive heart failure, is dismissed. The claim for service connection for a sleep disorder has been reopened and the appeal is granted. The appeal for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for asthma including pulmonary hypertension (previously rated as pulmonary hypertension with fatigue) is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to service-connected heart disease, is remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension and right knee scar are being remanded for further evaluation as the current evidence does not provide sufficient information to determine their severity.