Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension are being remanded for further examination and opinion as the initial opinions do not address his claims or supporting lay statements regarding exposure to environmental hazards and burn pits. The issue of secondary service connection due to allergic rhinitis is also addressed on remand.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, and hypertension are still pending as they were previously denied. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's neurological residuals of a right cranial nerve injury had its onset in service and is granted. The left knee, right knee, back, chronic sciatic nerve pain condition, cataracts, chronic sinusitis, hypertension (high blood pressure), and psychiatric condition (PTSD) are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea were denied as there was no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service or secondary to a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete medical records, including those from SSA and VA. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU rating prior to April 7, 2014.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as service connected. The claims for GERD and hypertension are not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether hypertension had its onset during service. The Veteran's hypertension was diagnosed in the early 1970s, and there is no contemporaneous evidence of service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the evaluation of service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's claim is now remanded for further examination and determination.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are already at their maximum ratings, so no increased ratings can be granted.,The Veteran's respiratory disorder claim was reopened but denied due to failure to attend a VA examination without good cause. The hypertension claim is denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure or other presumptive conditions.,There is insufficient objective medical evidence for the Veteran’s respiratory and hypertension claims, necessitating a VA examination which he failed to attend.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, hearing loss, colon cancer, asthma, and gum disease due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and rating of various conditions due to outstanding medical records and need for updated examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and its related secondary conditions due to potential herbicide exposure during service at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa. The Veteran's assertions are consistent with his service records but DoD and VA have not conceded use of herbicides in Japan.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and erectile dysfunction are all found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.,An effective date of March 16, 2017 is granted for the assignment of a 70 percent disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability. The claims for heart condition, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient information regarding his income and net worth for pension benefits. The Board requests the Veteran to provide necessary forms and information to claim his granddaughter as a dependent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for hypertension was improper and has granted restoration. The issues of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction and a heart disability, both claimed as secondary to hypertension, are remanded.