Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, right shoulder pain with arthritis, sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's hypertension, sleep apnea, and skin disorder are being remanded for further evaluation. The Board finds that the current evaluations do not reflect the full extent of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hyperlipidemia, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety) are not service-connected.,Diabetes mellitus is remanded for further review due to herbicide agent exposure.,Right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and left upper extremity neuropathy are secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II and require further review.,Hypertension is remanded as it may be related to herbicide agent exposure or a heart disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, but has remanded the cases of cervical spine disorder and lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from May 23, 2016 to August 29, 2017 was denied as he was employed during this time and not in marginal employment. The right knee disability claim is remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for angina, a compensable rating for GERD, and a compensable rating for hypertension have all been denied.

The Board has denied service connection for coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension. The claims for these conditions are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to errors in obtaining missing records and providing a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to his service aboard the U.S.S. Princeton, where he was exposed to herbicide agents during Vietnam. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and the need for a new one with a clinician who has not previously examined the Veteran.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the death of the claimant, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II (diabetes) and hypertension, both to include as secondary to herbicide exposure. The Board found that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and thus could not establish presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a VA examination to determine if hypertension is related to service or herbicide exposure, and whether it was aggravated by coronary artery disease. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not start during or within one year of his service, and is not related to any in-service exposure. The claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's right ring finger disability is currently evaluated at the highest schedular rating, but an increased rating is denied.,Service connection for a lower back disability is granted based on continuity of symptomatology within one year of service separation. Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with associated conditions (cataracts, nephropathy, onychomycosis, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension) has been rated as 20 percent disabling. Separate compensable ratings for cataracts, nephropathy, onychomycosis, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension have not been granted.

The Board has decided that service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension is denied. The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart condition and hypertension, to include as secondary to a heart condition due to incomplete records.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability, hypertension, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea. The issues of entitlement to initial ratings for these conditions have been remanded.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed. The appeals for service connection for osteoarthritis of the low back, a left hip condition (to include as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right hip), bilateral hearing loss, and renal condition are all remanded.