Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, including renal disease with hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, have resulted in a combined rating of at least 80 percent since May 2011, and currently 90 percent. The Board has granted TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that neither cerebrovascular accident nor hypertension were related to his military service and concluding that alcohol abuse was not a substantial or material factor in causing his death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension. The decision on sleep apnea is based on a lack of current diagnosis, while the hypertension claim requires further examination to determine if it had its onset in or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD, render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. Service connection for skin cancer is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined issue of increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities. The VA will address these issues before making a final decision on the TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death. The Veteran died from congestive heart failure, and the Appellant is seeking service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), a digestive condition, a skin condition including shingles, and memory loss due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for her right inguinal hernia scar. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be related to active duty or a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of hypertension within one year of separation from service. The reduction in the disability rating for the hernia scar was deemed proper.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to a significant increase in weight and obesity, which are not disabilities for VA benefits. The claims will be reconsidered with an addendum medical opinion addressing whether the service-connected bilateral foot disability caused or aggravated the Veteran's weight gain and obesity.

The Veteran's service connection claims for DMII and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure are granted.,Service connection is also granted for ED, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to service-connected DMII.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension does not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinea corporis. The issues of service connection for hypertension, liver condition, and alopecia areata (claimed as hair loss) have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to procedural errors and additional development is required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected hypertension, finding that his systolic pressure readings were never predominantly over 200 mm/dL and diastolic pressure readings were never predominantly over 110 mm/dL. The Board concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a disability rating greater than 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not related to his time in service or due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for coronary artery disease, bladder condition, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that his hearing loss did not begin in service.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board found that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and heart disability due to in-service herbicide exposure. The claims will be reviewed on their merits, and medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of these conditions.