Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus with hypertension and diabetic retinopathy is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for updated VA examinations considering current severity.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension and remanded it to consider whether it is secondary to his service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and/or PTSD.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to secondary to PTSD and/or exposure to asbestos. The Veteran's claims will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions considering the submitted articles.

The Veteran's kidney disability (immunoglobulin A nephropathy with hypertension) is rated at 80 percent, diabetes mellitus, type II and right knee disability are granted service connection, and TDIU from September 16, 2008 to September 4, 2009 is granted.

The Board has vacated its previous decision dismissing the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and remanded the case to allow for further development, including a VA medical opinion on the etiology of the condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to hypertension due to inadequate reasoning in the original decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, specifically addressing the finding in VETERANS AND AGENT ORANGE: UPDATE 11 (2018) that there was 'sufficient' evidence of an association between hypertension and tactical herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease with hypertension have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s diabetes disability warranted a 20 percent rating, as he was taking oral hypoglycemic agents but not requiring regulation of activities to control his symptoms.,For his chronic kidney disease with hypertension, the evidence did not show manifestations of persistent edema and albuminuria or generalized poor health. The Board found that the Veteran’s disability warranted a 60 percent rating based on constant albuminuria.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to support the reopening of this claim.,An earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for PTSD prior to September 15, 2017 is denied as there was no pending unadjudicated claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) and hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure. The AOJ is instructed to conduct additional development, including obtaining records from the JSRRC and providing an opinion regarding herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for further development. The claims for these conditions have been reopened based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being reopened as there is new evidence suggesting a possible link between her condition and service. Her claim for obstructive sleep apnea has also been reopened with similar reasoning.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for hypertension due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's testimony suggests that his hypertension may be related to service, but VA records do not provide sufficient information.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss have been granted service connection. The Board has found an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, stroke, facial numbness, right leg numbness, hypertension, skin cancer, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction. These issues are remanded for further development.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of Parkinson's disease is granted. The claims for diabetes and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for further development and adjudication. The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension, headaches, colonic diverticula (claimed as abdominal pain), low back disability, right knee disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, right ankle disability, right foot disability, and kidney disability are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, hip disorders, ankle disorders, and bilateral knee and hearing loss. The reasons for remand include needing to address whether obesity caused or aggravated these conditions due to PTSD or diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional review of new VA treatment records submitted since the last Statement of the Case. The issues include rating and service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disability, tinnitus, laceration of the right eye, skin rash (itching), headaches secondary to the laceration, vision loss, ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, hypertension to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, sleep apnea to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, hyperechoic liver mass to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a 10 percent disability rating from September 10, 2009. Prior to that date, the condition did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the need for further evidentiary development.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to herbicide exposure, but denied service connection for a respiratory disability. The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension is dismissed as his combined disability ratings exceed the required amount.