Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to a failure to obtain VA examinations and provide nexus opinions. The Veteran's service records do not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for most conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and a psychiatric disability have been reopened. The Board has found that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these disabilities are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for numbness in the upper extremities, hypertension, and congestive heart failure secondary to hypertension have been granted.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for hypertension, anemia (secondary to major depressive disorder), peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities. The reasons are that no VA examiner has provided opinions on whether these conditions are related to exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted. Service connection for gout is denied. The claims of service connection for hypertension and renal failure, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, and hypertension due to incomplete information from private physicians.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and he is granted financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance due to his peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, hepatitis C, and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The PTSD claim remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II with impotence, diabetic polyneuropathy right and left lower extremities, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and hypertension, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as of June 17, 2012. The Board granted a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability from that date.

The Veteran's appeal of the increased rating for PTSD is dismissed. The issue of service connection for hypertension, secondary to service-connected disabilities, is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and service-connected diabetes mellitus, as well as potential herbicide exposure. The Veteran will be asked for additional statements and an expert opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's exposure to chemicals/herbicides at Fort Lewis, Washington. The Veteran contends that his current disabilities are related to this alleged exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, which was secondary to PTSD, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's right eye disabilities, including cataract, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration, are currently diagnosed. The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as whether they are related to service or any head injuries sustained during active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and hypertension. The claims are remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to ACDUTRA service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type 2 due to chemical exposure during service. The decision is based on insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between these conditions and the in-service exposures.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted, but the case is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his pending appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The appeals for service connection of bilateral tinnitus, hypertension, anxiety disorder, depression, and migraine headaches have been dismissed.,The appeal for an increased rating for the service-connected mood disorder as secondary to degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine has been remanded.

The Board has decided that accrued benefits for hypertension have been granted, but the specific details of what benefits were paid and when are unclear. The case is being remanded to clarify these points.