Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's Bell’s palsy, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension and restless leg syndrome are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's hyperlipidemia is denied due to it not being a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The claim for service connection for a seizure disability has been reopened. The Veteran's seizures during active duty are considered to be pre-existing, but the Board is remanding the case to determine if they were aggravated by service. Other secondary service connection claims are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and scar below the neck line on the left side due to ischemic heart disease. The Veteran needs to be provided with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted service connection. The claim of hypertension has been reopened and the issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension is related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. The appeal will be granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for transient ischemic attack, back injury, dysthymia, and hypertension. The decision also includes a remand for additional evidence regarding bilateral hearing loss and total disability due to individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, gout, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, but denied all other service connection claims. The decision on OSA is pending as it was remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for reopening service connection claims and effective date issues, but has remanded his claim seeking a noninitial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected headaches, vascular type.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea, a skin condition, hypertension, renal cell cancer and pancreatic cysts has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease were not incurred in or due to his time in service. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fatigue is denied.,The Veteran's earlier effective date claim for PTSD is referred back to the RO for consideration in the first instance.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss rating is remanded due to a possible worsening of his condition since the last examination.,The Veteran's IBS rating is remanded as there are no updated treatment records and an examination is needed to assess current severity.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability rating is remanded as he reported worsening symptoms and additional private provider records need to be obtained.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a neurological condition, secondary to his lumbar spine disability, is remanded due to its inextricability with the lumbar spine rating issue.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded as an examination is needed to determine if it is related to service and/or herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is remanded as opinions are needed regarding whether it is secondary to PTSD or directly related to service.

The Board is remanding the claims of service connection for gout, hypertension, and hydronephrosis involving the right proximal ureter to determine their etiology. These conditions are being considered secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis B.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded for a medical opinion to determine if his esophageal cancer, hypertension, and coronary artery disease are related to his presumed in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, GERD, and hypertension have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for these conditions.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is dismissed. The appeals for increased disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left-wrist disorder, service connection for left-hand numbness (to include carpal tunnel syndrome), service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, service connection for kidney disorder, to include as secondary to medications prescribed for hypertension and/or an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD are all remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder with upper extremity radiculopathy. The appeal is now remanded to determine whether service connection should be granted for heart and hypertension disorders.,The Veteran claims that his current heart disorder and hypertension are related to his military service, presumed exposure to herbicide agents due to service in the Republic of Vietnam, or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy remains pending, with the Board requesting an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's prostate disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, hypertension, and cognitive disorder were not shown during service or within a year of discharge.,Service connection for these conditions is denied as the evidence does not establish that they are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a right hip disability and hypertension, finding that the conditions are not related to service or a service-connected condition. The issues of tinnitus and sleep disorder have been remanded.