Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as for VA examinations. The Veteran was not contacted by the RO to reschedule her previously scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including colon cancer, nerve damage, and hypertension. The issues are related to whether these conditions are linked to his active service or other factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient information regarding his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The RO is instructed to attempt verification of this exposure and provide a formal finding if further details are needed.

The Board has determined that new evidence received after the July 2014 denial supports a claim for service connection of hypertension. The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol abuse, left shoulder recurrent dislocations and scar, hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The attorney is entitled to 20% of any past-due benefits awarded as a result.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied as there is no evidence of a prior informal claim or application before July 26, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for bladder condition (urinary frequency), residual deformity of radial head, pain and effusion status-post fracture of radial head, impairment of supination and pronation of the right elbow, and hypertension.,All issues related to knee disabilities, lower back disability, hip disabilities, and neuropathy of the left leg are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for hypertension due to insufficient opinions regarding its relationship to service-connected conditions and presumed herbicide exposure. Additional medical opinions are needed to address these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to herbicide exposure, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral foot condition.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, specifically regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart condition, hypertension, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma and hypertension due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claims are being returned for further development, including obtaining updated medical opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, acne, and tension headaches as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service, and thus service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is granted as service-connected.,Obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to the service-connected PTSD.,Hypertension is granted as a direct result of service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hypertensive retinopathy and ocular hypertension, as well as hypertensive nephropathy. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depressive disorder and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and scheduling VA examinations. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions are completed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no current evidence of hypertension and thus not meeting the regulatory requirements. The Veteran had some elevated blood pressure readings during service but did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for uterine fibroids and hypertension due to inadequate VA examination in the May 2019 decision. The Court found that the February 2019 VA opinion was not adequate, as it did not consider the Veteran's lay reports regarding heavy menstrual blood loss during service and the retrospective nature of the August 1976 hematological examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an extraschedular rating for a gunshot wound injury, initial ratings for hypertension and hyperparathyroidism, effective date determinations, and TDIU prior to August 31, 2006. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.