Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including Hepatitis B and hypertension. The AOJ is instructed to obtain relevant medical records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, a sinus condition (including headaches), and hypertension is granted. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions were not provided as per the remand instructions. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding the Veteran's hypertension. The Veteran needs to provide updated emergency room records for further evaluation.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD). The remand also requires addressing whether the hypertension is aggravated by CAD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of heat stroke, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), and psoriasis due to outstanding service treatment records. The Veteran was diagnosed with psoriasis while stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and heat stroke during his deployment in Saudi Arabia.

The Veteran's service-connected psychoneurosis with hysteria is found to have contributed substantially or materially to the cause of his death, which occurred in December 2011. The Board affirms that this disability was a contributory cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service in Vietnam and/or his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The examiner should consider the updated NAS study that concluded there is 'sufficient' evidence of an association between herbicide exposure and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete medical opinions regarding their relationship to service, exposure to herbicide agents, or any other conditions.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was evaluated at Level I, which does not warrant a compensable rating. The right ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for disability.,The Board found that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his hypertension disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease within one year following separation from active duty service and insufficient evidence linking his current diagnosis to environmental exposure in the Persian Gulf or service-connected depression.

The Board has denied service connection for hypothyroidism and hypertension as these conditions clearly and unmistakably existed prior to the Veteran's second period of active duty and were not aggravated by that service.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for additional development, including clarification of the Veteran's periods of active duty and National Guard service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his hypertension. The Veteran will need a new VA examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to lack of medical evidence linking the Veteran's in-service exposure to dust and airborne particles with his death from acute myocardial infarction. The Board found that while there were positive opinions, they lacked sufficient rationale and were speculative.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various conditions, including left elbow disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, memory loss associated with major depressive disorder, peripheral vestibular disability, left knee scar, and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied a TDIU prior to June 1, 2014, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for IVDS, left knee strain, and hypertension due to service connection. The claims will be reviewed with new examinations and additional medical opinions provided.

The Board has remanded the cases of cervical spine disability, low back disability, bilateral pes planus, and hypertension for additional development. The Veteran's claims are not currently addressed as they pertain to service connection.