Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis was not related to his in-service elevated blood pressure readings and did not manifest within a presumptive period.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's unavailability for VA examinations. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of respiratory disability, hypertension, heart disease, and residual surgical scars.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, acid reflux, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, including as due to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record showing no relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed again, and another addendum opinion from a VA examiner is required.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that his heart conditions were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension and allowed the appeal on this issue. The claim is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to determine the severity of the Veteran's asbestosis and etiology of his diabetes mellitus, bilateral shoulder disability, hypertension, and varicose veins.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, and TIA residuals due to new evidence showing worsening of his conditions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it raises a question of whether the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an initial increased rating for CAD and remanded the issues of entitlement to separate compensable ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, as well as the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for diabetic nephropathy.

The Veteran's tinea pedis of the bilateral feet is not rated as compensable, while his hypertension remains under consideration due to potential service connection based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension is denied, and his duodenal ulcer rating is granted at a 20% level.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) as it is aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA medical records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension, including its potential relation to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals for service connection for myopathy, sleep apnea, hypertension, and Barrett’s esophagus to include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to untimely notice of disagreement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee and back disorders, as well as his hypertension, are inextricably intertwined with his service connection claims. Therefore, these issues must be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's surviving spouse's request for an earlier effective date of August 25, 2010 for her award of compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to lack of exceptions in the governing laws and regulations allowing for such a decision. The appellant demonstrated her ability to contact VA to file both her original claim for death benefits in April 2003 and her pension eligibility verification report in August 2010.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between hypertension and PTSD, and scheduling an examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with prior remand directives and missing service treatment records. The Veteran's claims for bilateral ankle disorder, disability manifested by night sweats and headaches, and hypertension are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which he initiated prior to his separation from service in October 2002, was denied due to a lack of definitive evidence. However, the Board found that there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the April 2003 rating decision because the correct facts were not before the RO at the time of the decision. The effective date for service connection is set as November 1, 2002.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and COPD were not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Chronic high blood pressure was also not found to be service-connected as no VA examiner provided an opinion on its etiology.