Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection for various conditions and secondary service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private medical records that may provide evidence of an earlier diagnosis of hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hemorrhoids has been granted.,The Veteran's hypertension claim due to herbicide exposure is remanded for further review.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for hypertension and degenerative joint disease of the upper and lower extremities, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's death was caused by complications from a gastric bypass reversal surgery, not due to exposure to herbicides or service-connected conditions. Additional evidence is needed to determine the cause of his extreme weight gain and its relation to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetic nephropathy and hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 11, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and skin disability due to incomplete VA treatment records, a need to obtain private treatment records from Dr. S., and the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis and TDIU was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating or entitlement to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for heart disability, hypertension, lymph node disability, and diabetes mellitus type II as the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.

The Veteran's service-connected intracranial hypertension with papilledema and retinal hemorrhage is being remanded for a new VA eye examination to assess the current severity of her condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. However, the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) is remanded as there may be outstanding VA treatment records and further examination is needed.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is denied because his impairment does not meet the criteria due to non-service-connected conditions, including bilateral carpal tunnel.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are not fully addressed due to new evidence submitted after the July 11, 2019 decision. The issues of service connection for various conditions and an increased rating remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities has been reopened and is granted. The appeal for a higher rating for PTSD, as well as the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, right knee condition, and left knee condition are dismissed.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, vertigo or Meniere’s disease, insomnia, conjunctivitis, cataracts, ulcers, headaches, right-hand and left-hand disabilities, squamous cell skin cancer, cholecystitis (claimed as a gallbladder disability), colitis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disability on the back, PTSD, right knee disability, lower back disability, left knee disability, hypertension, and GERD. The claims are denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities or due to in-service exposure.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal cavity, with metastatic lymph node cancer of the neck and squamous cell cancer of the left alveolar ridge are granted service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents. His bilateral hearing loss disability is also granted as it was proximately caused by a service-connected disability.