Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and hypertension as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential in-service noise exposure and fear of hostile military activity during combat service.

The Veteran's PTSD, hypertension and tinnitus have been granted ratings. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The Veteran is also remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, GAD, and depressive disorder NOS due to incomplete information regarding his service dates and potential treatment records. The Veteran is also requested to provide any SSA disability benefits records.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for hypertension and a headache disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not established, and additional evidence is needed to determine the nature of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if his hypertension is related to his service or a service-connected condition. The kidney disability claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the hypertension claim.

The Veteran withdrew all remaining issues on appeal, including service connection for high blood pressure, bilateral hip disorder, and neck/cervical spine disorder. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction (ED) due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of diabetes mellitus, type II; headaches; hypertension; a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD); and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents or toxic chemicals during service.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle and shin disabilities, hypertension, and dementia. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions on the hypertension claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for hypertension and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected low back disability. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for spondylolisthesis, radiculopathy, sciatica, nonservice-connected pension, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraines was granted effective February 2, 2017. The claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) eligibility was also granted effective November 28, 2018.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it is not related to her active duty service.,Service connection for left knee limitation of motion (chondromalacia) was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD has been granted. The initial rating for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) prior to February 20, 2014 is also granted.,Service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea remains pending as a new medical opinion is needed due to the lack of specific analysis regarding its relationship to service-connected conditions and presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for left eye vitreous syneresis and left eye ocular hypertension, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service or service-connected conditions. The Veteran's refractive error is considered a congenital defect with no superimposed disease or injury during service.,Service connection was denied for left eye vitreous syneresis and left eye ocular hypertension, both deemed unrelated to service or service-connected disabilities. The Veteran’s refractive error remains unconnected due to its nature as a congenital condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an examination and medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a back condition due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran's exposure history is unclear, and further investigation into his alleged in-service herbicide exposure is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons or bases for its decision denying a higher disability evaluation for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension. The Veteran should be afforded a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate or speculative opinions in his VA examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for neck, back, right shoulder, right knee, stomach, and hypertension disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, prostate cancer residuals, hypertension, and stroke residuals due to in-service exposure. The claims are also being reopened as new evidence supports reopening of these claims.