Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination. The Veteran's hypertension, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine are all being reviewed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for congestive heart failure and hypertensive vascular disease due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's diagnosed conditions qualify as ischemic heart disease, which could impact the decision on the hypertension claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure and prostate cancer are dismissed. The Board finds that the Veteran has presumptive service connection for his active chronic lymphocytic leukemia due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, residuals of a stroke, and depression secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The decision also remanded the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left wrist disorder, bilateral pes planus (flatfoot), and hypertension have been denied. The appeal is considered 'mixed' as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye condition, right leg shin splints, hypertension, and a psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence of current disabilities. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, depression, a pulmonary condition and vision loss are inextricably intertwined with each other. Therefore, these matters must be remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether hypertension is caused by herbicide exposure or service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2. The Veteran's hypertension was not granted presumptive service connection as a result of herbicide exposure, and there are conflicting opinions on whether it is secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his receipt of a 100 percent disability rating. As such, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review the issues on appeal and the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied because the evidence did not show a current disability or in-service incurrence. The Veteran appealed, but new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen this claim.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no link between the condition and service.,The Veteran's cyst disability is rated at 30 percent prior to December 15, 2017. From that date, a higher rating of 50 percent is granted but not higher.,An earlier effective date for headaches prior to December 1, 2005 and an earlier effective date for the increased rating of cyst disability prior to June 5, 2014 are denied.,An earlier effective date for TDIU prior to March 22, 2017 is also denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded and will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, eye condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) due to potential service connection issues. The claims are pending further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The decision affords the Veteran the benefit of reasonable doubt and finds there is medical evidence establishing a link between his service-connected OSA and his diagnosed hypertension.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided were insufficient to resolve the service connection claims for left knee degenerative arthritis and hypertension, as well as the increased rating claim for chronic dermatitis. The Veteran's symptoms have not been adequately addressed in the examination reports.

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims, and remands for further development are ordered.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment during the appeal period, leading to a grant of TDIU.,Medical evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran’s obstructive sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions or medications.,Medical evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions or medications.,Medical evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran has a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness and what its manifestations are.,Medical evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran has erectile dysfunction and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions or medications.

The Veteran's hypertension and sarcoidosis claims have been denied. The hypertension claim is denied as the blood pressure readings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The sarcoidosis claim is also denied because there is no evidence of pulmonary involvement requiring systemic high dose corticosteroids.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sinusitis, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic tachycardia (cardiovascular condition), hypertension, and insomnia due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Board has granted service connection for cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and alopecia related to Agent Orange exposure. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the complexity of the claim and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension is granted as it manifested within one year of separation and is not attributable to intercurrent causes. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,For his respiratory condition, service connection will be remanded to determine if exposure to fumes/solvents and/or herbicides caused or aggravated this condition.