Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for Other Specified Trauma and Stress Related Disorder, but the issues of service connection for hypertension and an effective date prior to February 7, 2013 for diabetes mellitus Type II are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. The Board finds that he is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support direct or presumptive service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis and no association with herbicide exposure.

Your appeal for a higher initial rating for hearing loss has been dismissed as the Board's April 2019 decision already denied such a rating. The issue is moot because you withdrew your appeal for hypertension and continue to pursue service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not service connected as it did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as there is no evidence that it began during service or is related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of congestion.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The hypertension issue has been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for vitiligo, sleep apnea, hypertension, bilateral plantar fasciitis, TMJ syndrome, right forearm laceration scar, Bechet's disease with intermittent flares of iritis, acne, mouth ulcers, and joint pain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's initial evaluations for left ring finger fracture and left little finger fracture are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and chronic bilateral foot pain due to additional development of medical records and examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and dysthymic disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's spouse is not found to have a factual need for aid and attendance due to her medical conditions, mobility issues, and financial management.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his diabetes mellitus, with diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to August 22, 2019, or in excess of 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has not decided the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and anxiety. The claim for reopening of a claim for service connection for anxiety is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected diabetes and/or knee disabilities. The VA needs to provide a clear opinion on these issues.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, epistaxis, and prostate disability due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,The claims for service connection for a left knee condition, right knee condition, hearing loss, hypertension, hypertensive cardiovascular heart disease, and gastritis have also been reopened.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's allegations of exposure to Agent Orange and ionizing radiation, as well as his current diagnoses of diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, hypertension, bilateral neuropathy of the upper extremities, eye disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The VA is required to obtain additional military records and provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, hematuria, and chronic skin disorder due to incomplete or insufficient opinions in previous examinations. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and residuals of a stroke, as secondary to sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions addressing all theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's hypertension disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for further evaluation due to a need for new evidence or treatment records.