Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his hypertension and active duty service or herbicide agent exposure. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship between his hypertension and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for peripheral artery disease of the left leg, right leg, prostate condition, and hypertension due to incomplete development. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD may also be related to his hypertension.

The Veteran was granted service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, herpes simplex, insomnia and nightmare disorder, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, etc., effective August 1, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after service separation. The Veteran's reports of symptoms during service were not credible and there is no medical evidence linking his current hypertension to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of high blood pressure, basal cell carcinoma, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service, including by way of exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, liver disorder, and TDIU prior to September 1, 2016 due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension due to marked interference with employment and the need for an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep condition/acquired psychiatric disorder, sterility, enlarged prostate, respiratory disability, hypertension, left or right hernia disability, and vision/eye disability has been dismissed as the full benefit sought on appeal was granted in an August 2020 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is causally connected to his in-service herbicide agent exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD with memory loss is granted. The claims for diabetes mellitus II, left and right lower peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea syndromes, hypertension, COPD, and GERD are denied.

The Board has decided that the case should be remanded for further development and evaluation of service connection for a heart disability, including hypertension, as well as secondary service connection due to asthma.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and diabetes mellitus secondary to service-connected PTSD due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes. The TDIU rating is also granted based on the severity of his multiple service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including panic attacks, as there was no evidence of such condition during or after service and it is not related to service.,Service connection for type II diabetes was also denied due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents in Okinawa, Japan.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was rated at 10% prior to November 20, 2014 and at 30% thereafter. The Veteran is denied a rating in excess of these ratings.,The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection but the Board found that his service-connected PTSD aggravated it beyond its natural progression.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a current disability, in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology, or due to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 2, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion on whether hypertension is related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete records and failure to comply with previous remand directives.