Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for various hip and knee conditions, as well as service connection for hypertension, is dismissed. Service connection for hypertension was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypertension is proximately due to and aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected, but due to a lack of records and an inadequate examination, the case must be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection for GCAWMI, including as part of claims for dizziness and depression.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease and hypertension, as well as his claim for TDIU. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's conditions were related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding SSA records that need to be obtained for a full review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's hypertension is related to service, as evidenced by elevated blood pressure readings in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service onset or relationship. The issue of service connection for a bilateral kidney disability is remanded as there are concerns about the competency and qualifications of the VA examiner who provided a medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings regarding the relationship between hypertension and service, as well as diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for hypertension is being returned for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability to include tuberculosis, a circulatory disability to include deep vein thrombosis, diabetes mellitus, type II, a sleep disability to include sleep apnea and sleep deprivation, and hypertensive vascular disease (claimed as high blood pressure).,The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions. The evidence did not support a causal relationship between any of these disabilities and service.,The Board also noted that the Veteran had positive skin tests for tuberculosis during service but no active disease was diagnosed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an addendum opinion from the September 2019 VA examiner regarding the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and chronic renal disease due to inadequate development of evidence. The issues are related to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's claims for skin disabilities of his low back and left leg, as well as psychiatric, eye, kidney cancer, prostate condition, and hypertension have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection is not granted for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.,Heart disability, hypertension, prostate disability (status-post surgery), and diabetes mellitus are all remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes type II, high blood pressure, stroke, and ischemic heart disease due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The Veteran is also being asked to provide private medical records supporting his claims.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus as secondary to a service-connected status post thyroidectomy due to lack of examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete development and requests that they be readjudicated based on all available evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to service, including conceded herbicide agent exposure during service in Vietnam, and whether it was caused or aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities. The examiner will also consider obesity/being overweight as an intermediate step between his service-connected disabilities and his hypertension.

The Veteran died from cardiac respiratory arrest due to arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The appeal is denied as the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits have not been met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cerebrovascular accident and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran will need updated VA and/or private treatment records, as well as a new examination if necessary.