Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding glaucoma, jaw issues, hypertension, liver cancer, ischemic heart disease, erectile dysfunction, COPD, and skin condition due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for cause of death, including verification of in-service asbestos and herbicide agent exposure.

The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded. The claim for hypertension (HTN) is granted. The claims of service connection for hiatal hernia (HH) repair and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with fundoplication surgery are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to incomplete records, including Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits and VA treatment records. The SSA records and all relevant VA treatment records from October 2012 to present must be obtained and associated with the Veteran’s file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, related to his military service. The hypertension claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's chronic nerve pain, headaches/migraines, muscle and joint pain, abdominal pain, fatigue condition, low back disorder, hypertension, appendix cancer or residuals of appendix cancer, and right knee disorder are being remanded for further evaluation due to the possibility that they may be related to service, including as part of a Gulf War illness.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for blood clots, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral vascular disease are remanded due to the need for additional development.,These issues involve claims based on exposure to microwaves, but no specific exposure basis was provided in the decision.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for an enlarged esophagus/esophageal spasms, gout, deviated septum, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and kidney disease. The decision also notes that further examination is needed to determine if any of these conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected panic disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus and for eye problems (including bilateral retinopathy, bilateral age-related macular degeneration, and bilateral cataracts) as related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and has remanded the issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for venous embolism and thrombosis of deep vessels of proximal lower extremities, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and stomach problems; and entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including toenail disorder, toe disorder, headaches, gastrointestinal disorder, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension, were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a link to service.

The Board has added new medical records to the claims file and found that they are relevant. As a result, the case is being sent back for further review of these new records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, OSA, a cardiovascular disorder, and hypertension as not related to service or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has ordered remand for additional development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, psoriasis, and PTSD. The appeals are being returned to the AOJ due to incomplete development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims as it lacks jurisdiction due to improper filing of an appeal under the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (AMA). The Veteran needs to file a proper Notice of Disagreement within one year from the notification of the January 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for anxiety disorder and hypertension was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not warrant a higher rating than what was currently assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-service diagnosis and concluding that hypertension is not related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee condition, hypertension, low back injury, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete treatment records. The Veteran should be afforded VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

Service connection is granted for a neck disability. The Veteran's right shoulder, bilateral heel, sleep apnea, hypertension, and GERD disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for psychiatric disability and neck disability has been granted.