Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The claim for hypertension is also remanded as it may be related to these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension. The issues include determining if hypertension is secondary to diabetes mellitus type II and/or prostate cancer, or directly related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative changes and hypertension, to include as due to PTSD. The claim for residuals of a left rotator cuff injury is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure. The hypertension, hypothyroidism, and erectile dysfunction claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claim for hypertension due to Agent Orange exposure or as secondary to PTSD. The June 2018 VA examiner's opinion was found inadequate and not responsive to prior remands, necessitating a new examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including a cervical spine condition, bilateral neuritis of the upper extremities, hypertension, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol. The decision found no new and material evidence that would support reopening these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hand and wrist disorders, right knee and ankle disorders, left knee and ankle disorders, and cervical spine disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and hypertension are currently rated at the maximum allowed under VA guidelines, with no further increase in rating possible.,Compensation for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is granted beginning June 15, 2018. The Veteran’s service-connected disabilities prevented him from performing the physical and mental acts required for employment.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or caused by military service and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disorder, low back disorder, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and skin disorder due to concerns about the adequacy of the medical opinions provided. The VA is instructed to obtain a new opinion from a clinician regarding whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for left hip disorder, right hip disorder, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, asthma, and residuals of stroke. The appeals are remanded for further development regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for eye disability, hypertension (HTN), peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity due to herbicide exposure. The RO must issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for a lung condition is granted, and the appeal is allowed to this extent only. An initial rating of 70 percent since February 24, 2010, for PTSD is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision found that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and that the current disabilities were not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, neck, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and hypertension due to new evidence received since the last examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, except for a brief period in 2016. Therefore, the claim for TDIU is denied.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no further action will be taken on these claims.

The Veteran's claims for kidney stone, erectile dysfunction, type II diabetes mellitus, primary open angle glaucoma and cataract of the right eye (claimed as bilateral blindness), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability for any of these conditions during or shortly after service.,The Veteran's STRs did not show any complaints or diagnoses related to any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the Veteran's testimony of potential continuity of symptoms shortly after discharge from service. The claims are being returned for further development, including obtaining additional private medical records.