Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for a cardiac disability, including non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and hypertension, which the Veteran contends is related to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for hypertension and kidney dysfunction due to additional development being required. The decision on service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's application for service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and residuals of a shrapnel wound to the right leg has been granted. The effective date is set at May 9, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the effective date of his tinnitus service connection was not advanced as requested.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, hypertension, residuals of a left foot injury, headaches, and a sinus disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset or relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors, exposure to herbicide agents, and participation in combat. Additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of hypertension, finding that a new VA examination is necessary to determine if it is related to his diabetes mellitus type II or any other service-connected condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The claims for hypertension, DM, acquired psychiatric disorder, symptomatic paroxysmal atrial flutter, glaucoma, left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right knee strain are all remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a respiratory system disability, including sinusitis or rhinitis. The issues are being remanded due to incomplete records from Dr. Chaney and Trinity Medical Center, as well as updated VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of aggravation during service and that any non-rheumatic heart disease conditions did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, cerebral hemorrhage, and a mental health condition (claimed as PTSD and anxiety disorder) due to potential service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents during service. The issues are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities, should be remanded for further development and a medical opinion.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as hypertension based on new and material evidence has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his scar associated with umbilical hernia is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, chronic low back condition, and left knee disability due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's service treatment records show hypertension during service but no formal diagnosis was made. Post-service records indicate current diagnoses of hypertension, chronic low back condition, and left knee disability. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical spine disability and kidney disorder are service-connected, but his left ear hearing loss and lumbar spine disability have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, which was secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate this claim as the appellant is deceased.

The Board restored the Veteran's previous 10% rating for service-connected hypertension, finding that the reduction from April 2015 was improper due to insufficient evidence of improvement in the disability.

The Veteran's hypertension and pseudofolliculitis barbae claims were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.