Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The Veteran's claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for evaluation of his service-connected scars is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an opinion from a mental health clinician regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD aggravated his nicotine dependence or addiction.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for respiratory disability, high blood pressure, diverticulitis with partial colectomy and residual scars, erectile dysfunction, and skin disability. The Board dismissed these issues as a result of the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, hypertension, a heart condition, and a lower back disability. The claims are currently in remand status.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to new evidence suggesting a possible association with herbicide exposure, but the medical opinion did not provide sufficient information to determine if this association is more likely than not.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within one year after separation. The Board also found that the current hypertension is not related to any incident of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate September 2017 VA opinion, which did not address medical articles submitted by the Veteran's representative and literature cited in a previous examination. The case is now to be scheduled for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypertension, erectile dysfunction, residuals of prostatitis, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, tremors, acquired psychiatric disorder, and skin condition due to incomplete examinations and lack of exposure information.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient discussion of the Appellant's arguments regarding medical literature disputing the VA examiner’s opinion on asbestos exposure and lung cancer.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, which was aggravated by a service-connected psychiatric disability (PTSD with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder), is service connected.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep impairment, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence suggesting a possible secondary relationship with service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Further examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his diabetes required one or more daily injections of insulin and regulation of activities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate etiological opinion regarding service connection for hypertension, which may be related to in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, mitral valve disease, and gastritis and esophagitis due to insufficient development. The TDIU claim is also remanded as there was no occupational history provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hypertension have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment prior to September 20, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined impact of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination and exposure verification. The Veteran is requested to provide updated VA treatment records, determine if his duties placed him near the base perimeter in Thailand, verify herbicide agent exposure, and obtain appropriate medical opinions regarding hypertension and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for kidney failure has been granted. The Board finds new and material evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the Veteran’s claim, which is raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's duodenal ulcer is currently rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 7305. The Board has determined that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are primarily continuous abdominal pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, kidney failure, and blackouts due to in-service herbicide exposure. The AOJ did not act on the February 2019 remand directives related to these conditions.