Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his ischemic heart disease is presumptively service-connected due to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand.

The Veteran's reduction of a 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus (DM) was improper, and the restoration of the 40 percent rating is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran warrants a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis have been rated as appropriate, but his peripheral neuropathy and hypertension due to Agent Orange exposure are not currently service connected.,The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac disability, kidney disability, bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities, and bilateral neurological disability of the upper extremities due to a duty to assist error regarding his reported exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to errors in obtaining relevant records and providing adequate opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal as to the timeliness of their notice of disagreement (NOD) regarding the March 26, 2018 rating decision denying service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The NOD was timely filed within 60 days of the April 3, 2019 correspondence.

The Board has reopened the service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and bilateral knee disorders due to new evidence received after a previous denial. However, the claims are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

Your claims for service connection have been dismissed because you did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement on the correct form.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The issues of secondary service connection for lumbosacral strain, service connection for fibroids, and hypertension are remanded.,An effective date prior to September 30, 2013, for the increase in ratings for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and headaches is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative disease, bilateral knee conditions, hypertension, and left carotid arterial endarterectomy. The issues include rating determinations for these conditions as well as a determination of TDIU prior to March 9, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for hypertension secondary to service-connected disabilities due to insufficient development and lack of a clear opinion on whether his hypertension is related to his service-connected conditions or if it had its clinical onset during active service. The issue regarding presumed in-service herbicide exposure and hypertension was also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, and a kidney disorder as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not establish herbicide exposure or a link between the disorders and service.

The Veteran's claims for glaucoma, ulcers, and hemorrhoids have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, a bilateral lower leg disability (including swelling), and a neck, shoulder, or upper back disability are remanded due to insufficient medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and medical opinion to determine if the diabetes mellitus and hypertension had their onset during a period of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) or are otherwise related to ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claims for right and left knee conditions, hypertension, and herpes zoster virus (shingles) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. His testimony about his in-service helicopter crash injury is considered material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and TDIU due to lack of evidence showing it was related to his military service, as well as insufficient combined disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's hypertension is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's representative withdrew all appeals, including those for service connection of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, COPD, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential new information regarding herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's claims are not yet decided.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted.,Service connection for kidney condition (including renal calculi) is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral eye condition is remanded.,Service connection for neuropathy of the right upper extremity is remanded.,Service connection for neuropathy of the left upper extremity is remanded.,Service connection for neuropathy of the right lower extremity is remanded.,Service connection for neuropathy of the left lower extremity is remanded.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded.,Service connection for tremors is remanded.