Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work. The Veteran will need a new examination to assess the severity of his conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, unspecified depressive disorder, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and hypertension have been granted increased ratings, with the right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy receiving a 30 percent evaluation each. The hypertension has also received a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and heart disability. The VA must provide addendum opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has determined that there have been issues with the completion of prior remand directives and additional development is required to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for residuals of a stroke and TDIU due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examination, failure to obtain certain records, and issues related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for a right elbow and/or arm disability, left elbow and/or arm disability, right wrist disability, and hypertension.,The Veteran's disabilities were not found to be related to his active service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for hypertension, increased ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia, and a low back disability. The Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction was granted in a separate decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hypertension, including whether she currently has the condition and its etiology. The Veteran will need a VA examination to clarify these points.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected, but his chronic headaches are rated at the highest possible level (50%). The TDIU claim is denied as he can still engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his military service in Vietnam is at least as likely as not related to his current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of both feet as a result of exposure to herbicides. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during his service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder.,The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to both his service-connected depressive disorder and tinnitus.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.,The Veteran's alcohol dependence is denied because it is recreational in nature and not related to military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted on an extraschedular basis beginning May 6, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since then.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, sleep disorder, GERD, and gastrointestinal condition other than GERD due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's medical history must be considered, and new opinions are needed regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The issues of service connection for right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica, hearing loss (right ear), a right knee disability, and hypertension have been dismissed. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Veteran's hypertension and right finger deformity with ankylosis have been rated based on their current status. The stomach condition issue is being remanded for further development.,The Veteran claims his stomach condition is related to Gulf War service, but the evidence does not support this claim.

The Veteran's hypertension was evaluated at 10 percent since 2002, but the Board found that there were no blood pressure readings meeting the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran’s coronary artery disease with left atrial enlargement has been rated at 30 percent since 2002. The Board determined that there was insufficient evidence to warrant an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new examination to determine if the Veteran's left shoulder condition is related to an in-service fall.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for congestive heart failure, COPD, high blood pressure, and pneumonia due to mustard gas exposure was dismissed because the Veteran died before a decision could be made.