Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary artery disease due to inadequate compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension condition, specifically whether it is related to his in-service exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while bilateral hearing loss and other conditions are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied. The appeal to sever service connection for neuropathy, right lower extremity, and the appeals for service connection of right shoulder disability and high blood pressure were all denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to address whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are permanently disabling and to determine his eligibility for education benefits under Chapter 35.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied an initial compensable rating for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to new evidence submitted after the September 2009 rating decision. The PTSD claim remains in a denied status.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the claims of service connection for hypertension, cervical spine disorder, and urinary incontinence. The case will be remanded to allow for a VA examination and medical opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and right scoliosis of lumbar spine with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in previous opinions and a need for further medical evaluation regarding whether service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active duty service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed. The claims for service connection for respiratory disorder, hearing loss, hypertension, sleep apnea, and loss of sense of smell are reopened.

The Board has denied service connection for a corneal scar of the right eye, OSA, and hypertension due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The claims for OSA and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's nephropathy with hypertension is granted a 100% disability rating effective August 31, 2016.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve and peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities are each granted a 60% disability rating effective December 13, 2017.

The Veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy are all denied service connection. The CAD is rated at 30 percent prior to September 3, 2018, and 100 percent thereafter.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and either service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's DIC claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied, and the cause of death appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death is related to his military service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnosis and service or any service-connected disability. The Board also found that presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure did not apply due to lack of evidence of a compensable level of hypertension within one year of discharge.