Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's hypertension, back disorder, skin rash in anal area, allergies, and prostate disorder were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.,There is no evidence of these conditions during the Veteran's active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected disabilities, as well as presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, Lyme disease, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, closed head injury, and TBI are remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additionally, the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for GERD and heart disorder was granted. The applications for lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are related to his service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, including arteriosclerotic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral retinopathy, neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, as well as issues related to his service-connected diabetes. The remand requires obtaining relevant reports from the U.S. Army and other agencies.

The Veteran's renal failure is related to his service-connected hypertension, and the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) has been denied. The Veteran does not have left hand tremors or a current diagnosis of heart disease. His hypertension is currently rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension (HTN) as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between his PTSD and HTN, and noting that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for obesity, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and osteoarthritis (including of the bilateral hands, right knee, right hip, left shoulder, and neck), all claimed as secondary to service-connected cognitive disorder. The claims are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for TIA was reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney condition was not reopened.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart disorder due to their inextricably intertwined nature. The claims will be merged and readjudicated.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea and tinnitus. The remaining claims are pending further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and major depressive disorder due to possible exposure to herbicide defoliants while serving on Guam. The case is returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death and denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to lack of evidence linking his service-connected conditions to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have asthma or hypertension in service, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.,For her headaches, the Veteran's claim is remanded as there are insufficient medical records to determine if they were incurred during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension, finding that it is not related to his military service or exposure to herbicides. The Board also found no evidence of a compensable degree of hypertension within one year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, and left ear hearing loss due to inadequate examination reports and missing medical records. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.