Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) caused or aggravated his heart condition, which contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, heart disabilities, and pulmonary hypertension due to service-connected asbestosis. The Veteran's COPD is now considered secondary to his service-connected asbestosis. Additional development is needed including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion on whether COPD was caused or aggravated by asbestosis.

The Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides while serving in Vietnam. Service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that OSA began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease or a service-connected disability.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that a headache condition began in active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease or a service-connected disability.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that kidney stones began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disability, right wrist arthritis, left wrist arthritis, sleep apnea, and pulmonary hypertension. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence was against finding a causal relationship between these conditions and active duty.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete and inadequate opinions in the July 2016 VA medical examination reports. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and GERD, both found to be aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for intra-abdominal bleeding status post umbilical repair (claimed as stomach condition) is granted, with no effective date provided.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral feet disorder and hypertension due to missing service treatment records, including an enlistment exam that was previously unavailable. The VA will need to obtain additional records and provide addendum opinions on whether the conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance was denied as there is no indication in the record that he had a physical or mental disability preventing him from filing a disability pension claim, and the evidence does not show he met any of the criteria for permanent and total disability under the liberalizing law.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, hypertension, and bilateral leg disability. The Veteran's low back condition is not related to his military service, while his hypertension and sleep apnea are related.,The Board granted service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, both of which are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and a skin condition. Specifically, another VA examination is required to address the nature and etiology of these conditions, including consideration of the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least likely as not that the Veteran's hypertension had its onset in service, was related to service exposure to herbicide agents, or is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease associated with diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiovascular/vascular disorder and metabolic syndrome due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The claims are being reviewed again as new evidence may support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a skin rash of the calves, and peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during or after service, and there was insufficient medical evidence to support a link between any current diagnoses and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to her active service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of bulging disc, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and hypertension due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, malignant glomus tumor, hypertension, and a low back disability have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claims.,Entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, ischemic heart disease, and pulmonary disability is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence, including internet articles submitted by the Appellant.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's migraine headaches, effective from the date of the decision. The other issues related to hernia, deviated septum, and hypertension were denied.