Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between his conditions and service. The claim for asbestos exposure is remanded as additional medical opinion is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for liver tumor, high blood pressure, and hemorrhoids. The claim for VA nonservice-connected disability pension benefits is also denied. The Board has found that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has any current miscarriage residuals or gynecological disabilities.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn his appeals for the listed conditions and increased rating, effectively dismissing all issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cause of death and his in-service exposure. A VA opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran’s death was related to service, including his bulk fuel exposure.

Service connection for hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder), and obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.,The Veteran's hypertension is considered to be due to his active service.

The Board has reopened several previously denied claims but has not granted service connection for any of the conditions. The decision is mixed, with some issues being remanded and others having new evidence received that does not meet the criteria for reopening.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and right foot disability were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,Memory loss is considered a symptom of the service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety, so it does not warrant separate service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a kidney condition, and dizziness and fainting due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension first manifested during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, cervical spine disability, and gout are denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for gout is also denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of prostate cancer is remanded due to lack of information regarding flare-ups that may indicate incapacitating exacerbations.,The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for gout is remanded as the examiner did not address the frequency and impact of his reported flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for left clavicle fracture residuals and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis was reopened, with the former granted based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The claim for DM was also reopened, but denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, diabetes mellitus associated with herbicide exposure, and related secondary conditions are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The November 2018 private medical opinion supports a nexus between the Veteran’s hypertension and his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain missing VA treatment records, SSA records, and private treatment records. A VA examination is also needed to determine the nature and etiology of GERD, as well as an addendum opinion regarding his claimed bilateral knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case to get a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicides. The most recent update from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) places hypertension in the 'sufficient' category, indicating there is enough evidence to conclude that there is a positive association between hypertension and herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest within a year of the Veteran's separation from active service and was not caused by or aggravated by his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is related to service and granted.,The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that hypertension began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, so it was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and incomplete addendum opinions.