Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, nose disorder (claimed as nose bleeds), and sleep apnea due to additional development being necessary. The claim of residuals of pneumonia is reopened but denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus due to a lack of authorization for private treatment records, which were submitted by the Veteran in 2009 and 2010.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and headaches due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination opinions. The Veteran's service treatment records are negative for any indication of hypertension or headaches, but his March 1971 separation examination noted frequent or severe headaches and shortness of breath. Post-service treatment records reflect complaints of headaches beginning in September 1993 and elevated blood pressure in March 1996.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has found that remand is warranted for the claims of service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include mood disorder, major depression, and PTSD. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and events he witnessed during service are not adequately addressed in the June 2020 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The claims will be reconsidered with the inclusion of all relevant information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service onset or direct causation. The secondary service connection claim was also denied as the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that the hypertension was proximately caused by his service-connected acquired psychiatric condition or diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and development, including service connection claims for various conditions and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his various conditions, including those related to his left leg thrombophlebitis with PVD.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for intermittent cardiac arrhythmia of PSVT and remanded the issue of service connection for a heart disability separate and distinct from cardiac arrhythmia. The case is now being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the cases of increased disability ratings for right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions and incomplete examination reports.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to additional VA records being added to his case file.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination for hypertension. The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension is being returned for further review.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent prior to January 25, 2014 and 50 percent thereafter. Effective June 10, 2010, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has found that additional development is needed due to the complexity of the issues and potential overlap between some of them.