Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and now service-connected hypertension, respectively.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for retinopathy, bilateral glaucoma, erectile dysfunction, a cervical neck disorder, and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The appeal regarding hypertension is remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,His tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for the cause of death and the relationship between PTSD, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records and provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, specifically due to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of a current disability or a causal link between his military service and any claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for depressive symptoms and insomnia are being remanded due to his apparent withdrawal at the May 2018 hearing.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his hypertension claim. The RO must issue a SOC on this issue.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension due to service in Vietnam is being remanded based on the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) 2018 update, which changed its classification from 'limited or suggestive evidence' to 'sufficient evidence of an association'.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for gastrointestinal disorder is being remanded as it involves missing private treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and hypothyroidism as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease due to insufficient aggravation opinions in a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and service connection for various peripheral neuropathies have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection has not been established for low back disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, right knee disability, or left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.,Additional examination is required to determine if the Veteran’s unspecified depressive disorder is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s headaches are due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's sleep disturbance (including sleep apnea and insomnia) claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s athlete's foot is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia with bilateral leg pain claims require an additional VA examination to determine if it is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s hypertension is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's right knee disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's left knee disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's skin rash on face and head claims require an additional VA examination to determine if it is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disability due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since October 10, 2016. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for various conditions, but has remanded these cases due to incomplete information regarding his exposure and treatment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but denied his claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension, skin disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to outstanding records not being obtained.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, and sleep apnea syndrome as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's right knee condition, hypertension, and left knee instability have been granted service connection. The separate initial 10 percent rating for left knee lateral instability has also been restored. Additionally, the Veteran was granted a TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including duodenal ulcer, hypertension, urinary tract infection, muscle disability, and hypertensive retinopathy, as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is at least as likely as not due to the Veteran's presumed herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.