Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining medical records from the Social Security Administration and conducting new examinations to address service connection claims.

The Board has denied service connection for respiratory disability due to lack of evidence. The claims for PTSD, cardiovascular disabilities, and type II diabetes mellitus are remanded as there is insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or other potential stressors.

The Veteran's kidney condition is being remanded for further evaluation as the current rating does not reflect its severity from March 1, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to lack of evidence showing a link between her current disabilities and her military service. The appeals were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The restoration of a 20 percent rating for hypertension was granted, but the claim for an increased rating remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam service is presumed and that this exposure is causally related to his current diagnosis of hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension and atrial fibrillation are granted as service-connected, with a 70% rating effective September 22, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and the relationship between his service-connected psychiatric condition and his heart, hypertension, and stroke disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee limitation of motion, hypertension, toenail fungus/onychomycosis (claimed as foot fungus), and residual raised scar/skin condition due to insect bite. The Veteran will need to provide updated medical records and undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, service connection for chronic residuals of hepatitis B, gastrointestinal condition, hypertension, and a back condition are REMANDED due to the failure to obtain VA examinations as instructed in the March 2018 Board remand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, concluding that his pre-existing condition did not worsen during service and was not permanently aggravated.

The Board has denied service connection for a disorder manifested by shortness of breath and remanded the issues regarding diabetes mellitus, PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder with anxiety disorder associated with PTSD, hypertension, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is also granted for insomnia, as it is considered a symptom of her already service-connected bipolar I disorder.,High blood pressure is denied because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension or isolated systolic hypertension.,POTS is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,Hypothyroidism and Ehlers Danlos syndrome are also denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and headaches, as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions are caused or aggravated by PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is requested to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current diagnoses.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, Type II.,There was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for pulmonary hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his service-connected bronchiectasis and pulmonary tuberculosis.,The evidence did not establish a direct link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension secondary to PTSD, and migraine headaches secondary to PTSD due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The claims will be addressed again with additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that there is a reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and resolving it in his favor.