Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with prior Court and Board instructions regarding the relationship between hypertension and herbicide exposure, as well as service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient clarification on whether PTSD aggravated hypertension, which in turn may have caused or aggravated renal dysfunction. Additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to incomplete readings of the records by the examiners.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including hypertension and coronary artery disease. The cases are being returned for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for low back condition, headaches, ED, high blood pressure, and sleep issues as the Veteran's conditions did not manifest in-service or within one year post-service. The Board also found no secondary service connection due to his low back condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. However, due to new evidence submitted in January 2020, a remand is necessary for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension, and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) have been granted. The claim for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's request for a temporary total rating due to treatment of his right shoulder disability is denied as he does not have a service-connected condition.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied based on lack of evidence linking the current condition to service. The earliest reported symptoms are from after separation from active duty.,The Veteran's claims for left knee, right knee, and erectile dysfunction disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence to determine their relationship to service.,Service connection for hypertension is also remanded as there is no sufficient medical evidence to determine its onset or relation to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding records from Richardson Methodist Hospital. The Veteran and his representatives are asked to provide assistance in obtaining these records.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen several service connection claims, including for right foot disability, left foot disability, face discoloration, psychiatric disorder, hypertension, left knee disability, right knee disability, and kidney disease. The evidence submitted did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The initial rating for service-connected lumbar strain has been granted at 40 percent from April 24, 2019.,Service connection was denied for erectile dysfunction, hiatal hernia/GERD, headaches, PTSD, joint problems, fatigue/shortness of breath, and TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, thoracolumbar compression fracture, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder) are all granted service connection. Secondary service connection is also granted for COPD, grand mal seizure disorder, osteoporosis, vertigo, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected mental disorder. The claims for hypertension and GERD are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart murmur, hardening of the lungs, shortness of breath, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. The evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Hepatitis C, Diabetes Mellitus Type II (DM II), Hypertension, and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) due to new evidence received. The effective date of the grant of service connection for epilepsy is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The issues of increased rating for the left wrist, service connection for low back pain, service connection for a heart condition (Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome), and service connection for hypertension are all pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that it is not secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The TDIU claim was granted effective December 11, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, attributing it to the Veteran's essential hypertension and noting that his hypertension began more than 40 years after service. The Board also denied service connection for TBI due to lack of evidence of a head injury during service.,There is no direct evidence linking the Veteran’s current conditions to service or any presumptive exposure, leading to denial of both issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for hypertension and TDIU due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The case is being returned for further development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disorders, including shoulder, knee, ankle, wrist, hand, and foot conditions, as well as hypertension and sleep apnea. Additional verification is needed regarding his active service after October 2009.