Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral eye disability, hyperlipidemia, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right upper extremity nerve disorder (ulnar neuropathy), and left upper extremity nerve disorder (ulnar neuropathy). The Board also remanded the Veteran's claims for gout, prostate disability (BPH), erectile dysfunction, and hypertension.,The Board has denied service connection for bilateral eye disability. The evidence does not establish that any diagnosed eye disorders began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his time in service and his current condition. The Board also found that there was not enough evidence to establish a secondary relationship with diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of his hands and feet due to insufficient reasoning in previous opinions, need for further development regarding herbicide exposure, and consideration of pre-existing conditions.

The Board has remanded two issues: the initial evaluation of service-connected hypertension and the issue of service connection for GERD. The Veteran's hypertension is to be evaluated again due to a recent worsening, and an examination is needed to determine if his current GERD disability began during service or is otherwise related to service.

The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinnitus and hypertension is granted, while entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as schizophrenia or depression) is remanded.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and prostate cancer as service connection, due to lack of information on his exposure in the territorial sea extending 12 nautical miles from the shores of Vietnam. Additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted. The Board finds that the Veteran was likely exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Korea and has developed ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, urinary incontinence, sexual impotence, hypertension, bradycardia, and Barrett esophagus as a result of such exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and depression was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, resulting in a denial. The OSA and hypertension claims were remanded due to inadequate development.

The Board has remanded the claims for type II diabetes mellitus, loss of vision, and hypertension due to potential in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's service records indicate he was aboard the U.S.S. Chicago during his active duty, but the exact location within Vietnam is unclear. Further investigation is needed to determine if the ship sailed within 12 nautical miles or within the waters outlined in 38 U.S.C. § 1116A while the Veteran was on board.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a skin disability manifested by multiple lipomas (now claimed as soft tissue sarcoma), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, now claimed as PTSD). However, these claims are still pending because the RO needs to obtain updated VA treatment records and provide a VA examination to determine if there is a causal relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's prostatitis is granted with a 20% rating prior to January 31, 2018 and a 40% rating from that date until May 15, 2019. A higher rating for prostatitis since then is denied.,Service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and incomplete records. The appellant is seeking service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral foot disorder, PTSD, hernia residuals, back disorder, congestive heart failure, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, type II diabetes mellitus, and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to determine if his conditions are related to service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA examination(s) to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to February 3, 2017 did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions regarding his gastrointestinal disability, lung conditions, and psychiatric issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were denied for hearing loss, PTSD, and hypertension. The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia was granted.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II (due to exposure to Agent Orange), left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's claims were not reopened as new evidence did not relate to the unestablished fact of aggravation by service.

Entitlement to an initial disability rating of 50 percent for headaches is granted, effective October 1, 2018.,Entitlement to an initial disability rating of 30 percent for chronic constipation is granted, effective October 1, 2018.,Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for hypertension prior to October 1, 2018, and a rating higher than 10 percent from October 1, 2018, is denied.