Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, shrinkage with fluid on the brain as secondary to PTSD with alcohol and marijuana use disorders, and sleep apnea have been denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD with alcohol and marijuana use disorders prior to February 24, 2015, has also been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded several other issues including ear hearing loss, neck, upper back, lower back, bilateral knee, ankle arthritis, foot/toe disabilities, vertigo, Meniere's syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and chronic kidney disease, as well as whether these conditions are related to his service-connected heart disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened, but the Board finds that there is no evidence linking his current condition to service or a service-connected disability. The claims for service connection for colon cancer and vertigo are remanded for further development.,Service connection for colon cancer remains in dispute as the VA examiner did not provide an opinion regarding its etiology due to lack of review of a relevant medical article submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not have its inception during active service and was not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active duty. The Veteran's blood pressure readings were consistently below the threshold for hypertension during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease with hypertension and mitral valve prolapse, as well as for a cervical spine disability. The claim for heat exhaustion is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, specifically whether it is related to service exposure to herbicide agents or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a pulmonary disability, hypertension, and carotid artery disease due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's flatfeet were aggravated by service and are considered secondary to his service-connected condition.,The Veteran's right hip disability is due to his service-connected flatfeet.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, a skin disability manifested by soft tissue sarcoma, a skin disability manifested by basal cell carcinoma, and COPD due to in-service herbicide exposure. The VA is instructed to obtain relevant medical records and schedule examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B, right hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorder have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to lack of diagnosis or manifestation within one year after discharge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no current diagnosis of hypertension in the record.

The Veteran's headaches, diagnosed as tension headaches, are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran experienced 'continuous' symptoms of arthritis since service separation.,Service connection was also remanded for hypertension due to herbicide exposure or secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for chest pain secondary to hypertension due to inadequate reasoning in the VA examiner's opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for right hip disorder, COPD, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeals are now remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases of the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) for further development. The claims are being reviewed due to missing service treatment records, which were destroyed in a fire in 1973.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including pulmonary hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and multiple joint issues, render him in need of regular aid and assistance due to his inability to perform daily activities without help. SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but the case is remanded for a new opinion on whether headaches are related to service-connected major depressive disorder or hypertension.