Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no service connection decisions were made.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service, and the Board denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral pseudophakia was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes and is granted service connection.,The Veteran's hypertension was not caused or aggravated by exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange, during his period of active service. Service connection for this condition is denied.,The Veteran's BPH was not caused or aggravated by exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange, during his period of active service. Service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected status post partial thyroidectomy, which caused obesity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, acid reflux, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension due to inextricably intertwined issues. The examiner is asked to provide a new opinion on whether the Veteran's schizophrenia was aggravated by his period of ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's hypertension is not related to his active service or presumed herbicide exposure. The Board has remanded the issues of psoriasis and osteopenia for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied. The claims of service connection for back disability, hypertension, and vertigo are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for a right leg disability, left leg disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), high blood pressure (hypertension), and back disability.,There is no evidence of any chronic or progressive conditions in service that could be linked to current disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed heart conditions as secondary to his hypertension, finding that while there was a link between hypertension and some of these conditions, they were not caused by or aggravated by the hypertension.

The Board has found the July 8, 2017 Notice of Disagreement (NOD) timely and remanded several issues related to service-connected disabilities including TDIU, DEA benefits, right total knee replacement rating, hypertension rating, right knee scar rating, left knee scar ratings, and SMC.

The Veteran is granted an initial 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) with valvular heart disease, effective from the date of this decision.,Service connection for hypertension secondary to service-connected CAD is granted.,Service connection for hypertensive heart disease (HHD) secondary to service-connected hypertension is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cardiac condition, including aortic insufficiency, tricuspid insufficiency and atrial fibrillation. The examiner is to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and a skin disability due to inadequate addendum VA medical opinions. The Veteran is required to provide additional information about his medical providers and outstanding records, and new addendum VA medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of his skin disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, chest pains, proteinuria, and inactive fatigue have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for left leg radiculopathy has been reopened.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his heart condition prior to December 17, 2019 is denied. A rating of 60 percent is granted as of December 17, 2019.,A remand is ordered due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and service or herbicide exposure, and whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection related to cramping in arms and legs, hypertension (to include due to service-connected conditions), degenerative disc disease, sciatic of the left lower extremity, and gout are remanded as insufficient medical opinions were provided regarding these issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The peripheral neuropathy of his bilateral upper and lower extremities has been granted but does not warrant an increased rating as it is currently evaluated based on mild to moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date of the increased rating for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating prior to February 17, 2016.,Service connection for hypothyroidism and hypertension were both denied as there is no probative evidence showing these conditions existed before or during service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension. The decision is remanded for further development regarding the hypertension claim.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as it is caused by his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is denied because it is not related to his service-connected PTSD.