Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board denied claims for service connection for hypertension, inguinal hernias, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's renal insufficiency claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea due to potential secondary relationships with his service-connected diabetes, as well as possible exposure to herbicides. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals in March 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no evidence to support his assertions or that his conditions are related to service. The Veteran was granted a TDIU and basic eligibility for Dependents' Education Assistance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and bilateral eye condition due to potential exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The claims are being reviewed again with a focus on obtaining medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently diagnosed, but the Board finds that it is not related to service due to lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if there is any link between the Veteran's hypertension and presumed herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim of a 70 percent rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted, effective July 3, 2019. The claims for service connection for pineal cyst of the brain, multiple sclerosis, nystagmus, sleep apnea, and hypertension are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of hypertension. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are also to be evaluated in terms of their impact on his employability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and vascular dementia due to herbicide exposure. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions are related to such exposure.

The Veteran's left eye diabetic retinopathy and bilateral cortical cataracts are service-connected. The denial of high cholesterol is based on it being a laboratory finding, not a disability.,The hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a left-hand disability, a right-hand disability, and hypertension. The Veteran's current medical records do not show any functional impairment related to these conditions.,There is no evidence of a current disability or symptoms in the Veteran’s hands that cause functional impairment of earning capacity.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and denied his claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to major depressive disorder. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to injuries sustained during active duty service, while the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his hypertension condition is related to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for hypertensive heart disease with coronary artery disease and a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7007 or Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to lack of medical evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension have been dismissed. A 50% rating has been granted for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's hypertension and bladder cancer were denied service connection. The Board found that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his military service, particularly due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's hepatitis, atrophy arthritis of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, lumbar spine disability (arthritis), and bilateral knee disabilities are not service-connected.,There is no current evidence of hepatitis. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of atrophy arthritis of the upper or lower extremities. Hypertension was not present within one year after separation from service. There is no evidence that the lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, or any other conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and coronary artery bypass graft because new evidence did not establish a link to military service.

The Board has denied increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and mechanical low back pain with osteoarthritis, lumbar spine. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims including hypertension, constipation, cognitive disorder (dementia), impaired glucose tolerance, and the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and a respiratory/lung disorder is granted. The claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder is referred to the RO for further action.