Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and GERD due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran testified that his hypertension may have been caused by tension during service, while he started experiencing symptoms of GERD about one year after service.

The Veteran's hypertension and headaches have not been linked to his service, and thus the claims for these conditions are denied.,For the bilateral pes planus, left great toe disability, right great toe hallux rigidus and degenerative changes, status post bunionectomy, increased rating claims, additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for kidney disease, hypertension, and peripheral and median neuropathy of the upper right and left extremities due to outstanding VA treatment records. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and provide a formal finding if they do not exist.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The VA will obtain additional records and provide a new opinion on this issue.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the failure to obtain certain medical records and for further development.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, right shoulder disability, and dry eye syndrome with pinguecula and punctate keratitis are granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded an initial rating of 20 percent for his dry eye condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for issues related to effective dates and service connection.,The Board has also remanded several claims, including those for increased ratings and TDIU based on migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and asthma due to deficiencies in a February 2020 VA medical opinion. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any of these conditions and active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in service. The Board also found that there is no causal relationship between hypertension and risk factors such as age, genetics, family history, and dietary factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to insufficient consideration of continuity of symptomatology and potential direct service connection on a direct basis, as well as herbicide exposure. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, and hypertension. The Board found that there was no evidence of any current diagnoses or in-service incidents related to these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and hepatitis C, and remanded the issues of service connection for a joint disease disability secondary to hepatitis C, TDIU, and nonservice-connected pension. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic kidney disease and hypertension are granted as both conditions are found to be caused by his service-connected smoldering multiple myeloma.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The case will be further developed by obtaining additional records and providing a new medical opinion.

The Veteran requested to withdraw appeals for increased disability ratings for arteriosclerotic heart disease, left shoulder subacromial subdeltoid bursitis with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis, and right elbow epicondylitis.,The Veteran also requested to withdraw the appeal for service connection for hypertension. The claim is reopened due to new evidence received since the final September 2010 rating decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, finding no evidence of a direct or secondary relationship to his military service. The claim was based on exposure to herbicide agents and PTSD, but the VA examiner found no link between these conditions and the Veteran's current hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic lung condition, including COPD and pulmonary hypertension, as the evidence did not support a link to active service or asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more.