Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, vertigo, headaches, high blood pressure, hepatitis C, and cirrhosis of the liver as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a link to military service.,A 20 percent rating was granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and character of discharge. The main issue is whether the Veteran’s bad conduct discharge for his second period of service from August 2, 1989 to October 12, 1994 constitutes a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's stroke was caused by his presumed in-service exposure to an herbicide agent and whether it was caused or aggravated by hypertension.

The Board dismissed the appeals of several service connection claims and denied requests for earlier effective dates. The Veteran's claims were not supported by a proper substantive appeal.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension was denied. The effective date for the grant of a 30 percent evaluation for migraine headaches is April 4, 2017.,The Veteran's petition to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for heart disease was denied. The effective date for the grant of a 30 percent evaluation for heart disease remains April 4, 2017.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims because the Veteran passed away during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. Service connection is also granted for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but denied for vascular dementia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disturbance disorder, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD or a sleep disturbance disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, hypertension, a left foot disability, PTSD, and MDD due to the need for further evidentiary development. Specifically, VA treatment records from before May 2007 at San Juan VAMC should be obtained, as well as any untranslated documents in Spanish.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further development, including verification of in-service herbicide exposure and an opinion on whether hypertension is related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for thyroid disability and hypertension, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or herbicide exposure. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange is granted.,Service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange and/or CAD, is denied.,Service connection for melanoma, including as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange, is denied.,Service connection for hepatocellular carcinoma, including as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange, is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including left ankle, left knee, right hip, left hip, and right shoulder disabilities, as well as hypertension and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service connection claims for BPH, HTN, and an acquired psychiatric condition are granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for hypertension and denied a higher initial rating for MDD. The case was remanded to determine if there should be an earlier effective date for service connection of MDD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to new evidence submitted since the April 2005 rating decision. The case is remanded for further development regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, heart disease disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, respiratory condition, and upper torso left side scar associated with lung surgery due to potential herbicide exposure. The AOJ is instructed to obtain deck logs from USS Ranger and USS Hancock (CVA-19) and determine if they were within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during the Veteran's service.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his hypertension, which was caused by in-service Agent Orange exposure, contributed to his kidney disease and ultimately led to his death. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.

The Board dismissed all petitions to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.