Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's hypertension is being evaluated based on herbicide exposure, while erectile dysfunction and obstructive sleep apnea are being evaluated without a specific exposure basis.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection and rated at 10 percent. The cervical spine strain with DDD, left hip limitation of flexion, right hip limitation of flexion, right hip limitation of extension, left hip limitation of extension, impairment of the right thigh, and impairment of the left thigh are all denied ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his assertions of in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The AOJ must verify these claims and then reassess the service connection based on this verification.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a noncompensable rating effective December 20, 2016. The Veteran's claim is being remanded to determine the appropriate disability rating due to conflicting blood pressure readings over the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, a back condition, bronchitis, amnesia, fainting spells, and hypertension. The claims were not reopened.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The VA must obtain additional records and provide an updated opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's service connection for heart disease and pulmonary disorders, including pulmonary hypertension. The decision also requires obtaining medical records from Portsmouth General Hospital and a medical opinion on whether these conditions were caused by military service.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension and renal failure is denied, but he is granted compensation for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, and the other claims were remanded or denied. The effective date is not specified.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.,Service connection for a heart condition other than hypertension, presumed due to herbicide exposure in service, is denied.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for neurodermatitis prior to February 6, 2020, and a rating in excess of 60 percent effective from February 6, 2020, are also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on various conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the claimant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more during his service or within two years following his separation. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher schedular rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as they do not result in permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ankylosis of a knee or hip, or loss of use of a hand or foot such that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump at the site of election below the elbow or knee with the use of a suitable prosthetic appliance.

The Board has reopened the appellant's kidney disease claim and remanded all matters for additional development. The Veteran served in Southwest Asia, but there is no evidence of exposure to specific hazards like burn pits or Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for eye disability, DM II, hypertension, and auditory dysfunction due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, based on the upgrade of evidence showing a positive association between hypertension and herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension due to new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected conditions and any in-service exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, and his claims for sleep apnea, hepatitis C, high blood pressure, esophageal varices, cirrhosis, and gallstones are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.