Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's CAD and hypertension are granted as service-connected due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's Barrett’s esophagus and mild gastritis (GERD) are denied as not related to his military service.,Right knee disability is reopened, with the claim for service connection being granted.

The Board denied service connection for a bladder condition and hypertension due to Agent Orange exposure.,The Veteran's entitlement to an earlier effective date for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, and right foot fungus for additional development. Service connection is granted for hypertension and osteoarthritic degenerative changes of the first metatarsal phalangeal joints of the bilateral feet.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a heart disorder has been reopened. The case is being remanded to consider additional evidence and obtain an opinion on the nature and etiology of his heart disorders, including whether they are caused or aggravated by PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders as well as hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service or until decades after service. The Board also found that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to Agent Orange exposure. The issues of service connection for erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and TMJ disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to his failure to appear for a scheduled DRO hearing. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to present his case at a rescheduled hearing.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to potential herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence. However, the case is remanded as an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether the service-connected prostatitis contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's prostate cancer and death.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his blood pressure readings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, left knee disability, and cervical spine disability. Service connection is also granted for erectile dysfunction but denied for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability was previously denied, and new evidence submitted does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,Service connection is not granted for pancreatitis or hypertension as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded due to new evidence. The claim for diabetes mellitus remains denied.

Service connection is granted for shin splints, right shoulder disability, and bilateral ankle disabilities.,Service connection is granted for esophageal diverticulum, dumping syndrome, pancreatitis, anemia, syncope, heart condition, hypertension, back condition, asthma, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,Service connection is granted for headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service or within one year after separation from service.,The Board concluded that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and hypertension due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; hypertension; and skin cancer (melanoma) are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his Reserve service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure and right carpal tunnel syndrome are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.,Service connection has not been established for the claimed conditions of left tennis elbow, right tennis elbow, left carpal tunnel syndrome, skin cancer, or high blood pressure.

The Veteran's headaches and hypertension are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty, nor are they linked to his Gulf War service or PTSD.,His lower back disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it was present in service or within the presumptive period for undiagnosed illnesses. The Veteran's current IBS is also not service-connected as there is no link between his active duty and this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and headaches. The cases are remanded for further development.