Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for a low back disability has been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various other conditions have also been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension as secondary to a service-connected disease or injury, finding that there is no evidence linking sleep apnea and PTSD to hypertension.

The Veteran asserts that his hypertension and right and left lower extremity disabilities are related to or aggravated by service-connected lumbar spine and psychiatric conditions. The Board finds these issues must be remanded for further development.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a right lower extremity disability, including peripheral vascular disease, which he believes is related to his service-connected lumbar spine and psychiatric conditions. This issue also needs to be addressed in more detail.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The issues of secondary service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease to coronary artery disease are remanded.,Service connection is also granted for TDIU due to all service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is required for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, adjustment disorder with mixed depressed mood and anxiety secondary to prostate cancer, and atrial fibrillation due to exposure to herbicides. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's presumed herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of new evidence. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, if the Veteran does not meet schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vision loss, need further review due to potential death of the Veteran. The appeal is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected multiple sclerosis.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for hypertension, OSA, and a sinus condition due to potential issues with causation.,Service connection is sought for hypertension secondary to tinnitus, OSA as secondary to tinnitus, and a sinus condition related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, heart disease, residuals of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and peripheral artery disease (PAD) due to incomplete development. The Veteran's representative requested additional records from the Philadelphia VA outpatient clinic, which were not provided in the original record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for refractive error, mild dry eyes, and bilateral incipient senile cataracts is denied. The Board finds the VA examination opinions inadequate to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, skin cancer, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cardiovascular disease and diabetes due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners. The new examiner is required to consider the Veteran's reports of symptoms during service, including fatigue, and provide a discussion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral pes planus have been reopened. The claim of nutritional deficiency, skin disorders, anemia, eye disorder, and headaches secondary to hypothyroidism are also being remanded.,Service connection is being remanded for the Veteran’s low back disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's current low back and right hip disorders are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and military service. The skin disorder may be related to service due to potential pre-existing conditions exacerbated by service.,PTSD was diagnosed based on childhood trauma, but its relationship to service needs clarification.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by any service-connected disability, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that his chronic kidney disease or hypertension were related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his bronchial asthma with obstructive sleep apnea does not warrant a rating in excess of 60 percent, and service connection for high blood pressure, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder cannot be established.