Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. A new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran died from a non-service-connected cause and did not receive service-connected benefits at the time of his death. Therefore, DIC benefits are denied. The burial costs were incurred after the two-year filing deadline for nonservice-connected burial benefits, so those benefits are also denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examination in June 2020 was inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to address the onset of hypertension during service, within one year of separation, or otherwise related to active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is required to provide information about private medical records related to his claim.

The Veteran's initial claim for hypertension was denied in April 2003, but service connection was granted on June 12, 2017. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for hypertension.,Service connection for onychomycosis was also granted on June 12, 2017, and the initial rating assigned was noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include an adjustment disorder with depressive features were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection was not granted because the evidence did not show a current disability or establish a link between any diagnosed condition and military service.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to dental bridge, respiratory conditions, generalized joint pain, low back pain, hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction. The issues are all related to service connection due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran is granted TDIU from October 17, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and for obtaining additional service medical records. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed for its etiology, including whether it was aggravated by his active duty service from April 2010 to September 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his hearing loss claim which is remanded. The grants include OSA and hypertension secondary to major depressive disorder, as well as bilateral plantar fasciitis and foot bone spurs secondary to those conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a back disorder, and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate examination reports and new evidence. The claims are being reviewed again with additional opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension and TDIU claim are remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives. The case is also remanded for a new VA medical opinion on the aggravation of hypertension by his service-connected heart disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding secondary service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed again to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected status post ureterolithotomy for right nephrolithiasis.

The Veteran's basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was not established prior to March 2, 2020, as he did not have a permanent and total service-connected disability at that time.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring a VA examination for heart conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran served in the Korean DMZ during the relevant period, allowing for a presumption of exposure to herbicide agents. As diabetes is presumptively related to such exposure, service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes). The heart disability and hypertension claims are remanded due to the enactment of 38 U.S.C. § 1116B creating a new basis for entitlement.

Service connection is granted for left knee arthritis and OSA, with the latter being secondary to PTSD.,Hypertension service connection is denied due to lack of a nexus between current condition and service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain addendum opinions regarding service connection for heart disorder, coronary artery disease, and hypertension secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's hypertension with renal dysfunction, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss have been restored to their original ratings of 80%, 70%, and 30% respectively.

The Veteran's hypertension claim for a compensable rating is denied, and the low back condition service connection issue is remanded.