Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and an updated VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's hypertension, which is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for hypertension, which is presumed related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and whether he served in the Republic of Vietnam under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. The claims will also be reviewed for secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disability, and hypertension due to the need for additional development including examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type two, hypertension, and renal disease are granted service connection. His bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also granted service connection. The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndromes have been granted increased ratings.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including tinnitus, alcohol abuse, traumatic brain injury, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, right hip condition, left hip osteoarthritis, right sciatica, left sciatica, bilateral leg disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The decision also denied a request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions were denied. The Board found no current disabilities for the claimed right thigh, hip, PFB, flank, CFS, sleep apnea, and hypertension disorders.

The Board has found that additional development is needed due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and these claims are being remanded for further consideration.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including generalized fatigue, hypertension, hypogonadism, pituitary microadenoma, and a head tumor (presumed to be pituitary microadenoma) and sleep apnea. The claims were not granted on a presumptive basis due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those involving diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The main issue is whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claims for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, sinus disorder, heart condition, hypertension, and breast cancer residuals are being remanded due to the need to verify her service dates and obtain missing records.,The Veteran's claims for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sinus disorder are being remanded as there may be missing VA treatment records and other relevant documents that must be obtained and associated with the claims file.,The Veteran's claim of heart condition is being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records from civilian doctors and provide a VA examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is being remanded as there may be missing private medical records that must be obtained and associated with the claims file, and a VA examination will also be provided to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's claim of breast cancer and its residuals is being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records from civilian doctors and provide a VA examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's tinea pedis and allergic rhinosinusitis were not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,High cholesterol was deemed not a ratable disability for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection for a back disability, bilateral leg disability, BPH, hearing loss, tinnitus, rash on legs and buttocks, and hypertension could not be established due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or within one year post-service.,However, the Veteran's insomnia was found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a compensable disability rating for hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure). The Veteran did not submit any prior communications regarding his hypertension before July 28, 2014. His current claim was received on that date, leading to the assignment of an effective date of July 28, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lung condition, hypertension, and right knee disability. The lung condition was not related to active service or exposure to herbicides/ asbestos. Hypertension was not caused by service-connected diabetes or PTSD. Right knee disability was not incurred in service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension and respiratory disability claims need further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected conditions or due to exposure to herbicide agents. The cases are being sent back for additional evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of proper notice of disagreement and for obtaining an adequate VA opinion regarding whether service-connected PTSD, smoking habit, and in-service herbicide exposure contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service aboard USS Bennington (CVS-20). The claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathies, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to this exposure determination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including verification of Vietnam-era service exposure and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and ischemic heart disease were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities meeting the criteria for VA purposes. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to lack of a current disability that precludes gainful employment.