Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed all the appeals for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, hypertension, prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, brain cyst, and psychiatric disorder, all of which were found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the condition pre-existed the Veteran's third period of service and was not aggravated by service. The evidence showed clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is at least as likely as not due to the Veteran's presumed herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and other specified trauma and stressor disorder, is found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and headache disability are also granted as secondary to the diagnosed psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether the hypertension manifested during active service or a verified period of ACDUTRA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is directly related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for gout, hypertension, CAD, and residuals of a stroke. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's hypertension and left knee disability are granted service connection, while the claim for a compensable rating for bilateral tinea pedis is denied.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection. The claims are being remanded due to conflicting medical records regarding the nature of his right leg disability, and the need to establish a direct relationship between herbicide exposure and his IBS, chloracne, prostate cancer, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney cancer and hypertension due to potential links with herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam, as well as possible secondary effects of his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has decided that service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is denied. Service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a failure to attempt to obtain them. The Veteran's hypertension claim is being returned for further action.

The Board has decided that SMC due to the need for Aid and Attendance is granted. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depressive disorder, and vascular neurocognitive disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for loss of balance, poor vision, sinusitis, degenerative arthritis of the right hand, right hand nerve damage, hypertension, and sleep apnea due to PTSD have been granted. His claim for an increased rating for PTSD has also been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a link between his active duty service and his current condition. The Board also found that hypertension did not develop within one year after discharge from service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected hypertension has been denied as the evidence does not show that his diastolic pressure is predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure is predominantly 160 or more, and he does not require continuous medication for control.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from prior to May 2010 and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's hydropyelonephrosis and hypertension were rated at 30 percent prior to May 8, 2019, and at 60 percent thereafter. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of hypertension, thus denying the claim. For other conditions, the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.