Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and pancreatitis due to service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease. The remand requires a new medical opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the conditions are related to herbicide exposure, secondary to service-connected disabilities, or newly material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms have aggravated his current hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his chronic kidney renal disease, determining the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, and addressing the relationship between his hypertension and service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his mental and physical limitations limit his occupational opportunities but are not shown to be such as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to any service-connected disability or to exposure to herbicide agents. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a service-connected condition at the time of his death.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. TDIU is granted beginning December 30, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unclear diagnoses. The issues of service connection are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the previous decision regarding service connection for hypertension and its relation to other conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting assessments of his psychiatric disability and incomplete medical records. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if he has a psychiatric disorder related to service, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded five issues for further development, including service connection for tinnitus, bilateral restless leg syndrome, arthritis, headaches, and hypertension.,Service connection is denied for all claimed conditions as the evidence does not support a nexus between any of these conditions and active duty.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for an ulcer condition as secondary to PTSD, hypertension due to herbicide exposure, and a higher rating for PTSD. Additional development is needed in each case.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including reopening of previously denied claims and obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has ordered remand due to the need for addendum opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension and kidney disease were aggravated by his service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus and PTSD.

The Board has remanded several issues for early private treatment records, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty in determining if the Veteran's hypertension is related to his military service, including his presumed exposure to herbicides while serving in Vietnam. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hypertension disability had its onset during or is otherwise related to his period of active duty service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is presumed service-connected due to herbicide exposure. His hypertension and hearing loss are considered secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2. The tinnitus is also considered secondary to the service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for its August 2017 denial of service connection for hypertensive vascular disease. The issue is being returned for a new VA medical opinion that considers recent updates on hypertension and herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for hypertension and an effective date earlier than October 21, 2016, for the 50 percent disability rating for PTSD. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension should be remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was granted, and the effective date is set at April 16, 2007. The claims for PTSD and headaches were also granted with an effective date of April 16, 2007. However, the Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his right elbow disability remains pending.