Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea due to inadequate examination reports and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, hypertension, and cold injury residuals are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The cases for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a heart disorder, to include coronary artery disease and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and missing medical records. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed for service connection, including as possibly related to exposure to herbicide agents and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to PTSD, due to inadequate VA examination and need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's aortic aneurysm is related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and depression.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents, lead-based paint, or asbestos.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The other issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and hypertension was granted. The RO denied the reopened claim for hearing loss, asthma, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, OSA, and hypertension on the merits.,The Board remanded the reopened issue of service connection for a bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2, and the effective date for this service connection is set at November 9, 2011.,Service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities is granted with an effective date of November 9, 2011. The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities remains pending as the evidence does not support a current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claims. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee pain, right knee pain, heart condition, hypertension, and PTSD are all remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for hypertension and left thumb injury as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder has been granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of decision.,Service connection for prostate cancer residuals is granted with an initial disability rating of 100 percent prior to January 7, 2013, and 40 percent thereafter. Service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral fingers as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and NSVT, with hypertension being granted based on in-service onset and secondary NSVT to hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, low back condition, bilateral knee and ankle conditions, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension. The decision also remanded the claim for a higher rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for initial compensable ratings for cholecystectomy and right upper and mid quadrant scars, as well as service connection for diabetes, diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, sickle cell anemia, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a prostate condition. The claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical records from various providers and determining whether the appellant is an appropriate substitute claimant. The claims of service connection will be considered based on the merits.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, and panic disorders with agoraphobia. The VA examiner concluded that there is no causal relationship between these conditions.