Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and ischemic cardiomyopathy are granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. The claims for hypertension, right arm scar, and right ear hearing loss are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during active service or within one year of discharge and is not otherwise related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided that the case should be returned to the AOJ for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, including presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain private treatment records and Social Security Administration records, as well as provide the Veteran with an adequate explanation for any missing records.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete service records and need for further clarification regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The VA examiner will be asked to address whether any diagnosed conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension with nephrosclerosis, ischemic stroke residuals, and erectile dysfunction associated with hypertension with nephrosclerosis, precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the period from June 1, 2014 to May 11, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran was at least in equipoise regarding his ability to function in any occupational setting due to increasing physical limitations.

Service connection granted for other trauma and stressor-related disorder.,Service connection granted for hypertension secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection granted for erectile dysfunction secondary to hypertension.,Remanded for further examination regarding a skin disability (likely due to burn pit exposure).,Remanded for further examination regarding obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, heart disease, residuals of a CVA, and PAD due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's single elevated blood pressure reading in service and post-service readings are at issue.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting examinations by a neurologist and an eye specialist. The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease and left ankle injury are rated at 10% and 20%, respectively, prior to September 18, 2019. After that date, the rating for back condition is increased to 20%. Service connection for hypertension was granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension, cholecystectomy residuals, and bilateral osteoarthritis of the wrists have not met the criteria for higher disability ratings.,Service connection for the Veteran's bilateral osteoarthritis of the wrists has been denied as there is no evidence that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete development. The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Board has denied the reopening of multiple previously denied claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's claims were not reopened as there was no evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected urethral calculus and has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, atrial fibrillation, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hand disability.,The claims were remanded for additional development in March 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying a compensable rating for hypertension. Specifically, they need to determine if the March 2017 blood pressure reading indicates an increase in the disability since the March 2014 VA examination.

Service connection for a heart disability is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.,Service connection for hypertension is granted as it is related to the service-connected heart disability.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for hypertension was denied as his blood pressure readings have not consistently exhibited predominant levels of 100 or more in diastolic pressure or 160 or more in systolic pressure, which are required for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records are needed for the remaining claims, and a new VA medical opinion is required to address whether preexisting scoliosis was aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's condition did not start in service or within one year of separation and there was no evidence linking it to his active duty.