Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of an esophagus disability, a right-hand disability, and hypertension have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran while these claims were pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further evaluation. The appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2. Additionally, the Board finds that there may be a link between herbicide exposure and hypertension, so an addendum opinion must also address this theory of entitlement.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities, hypertension, heart condition, and dyslexia (claimed as secondary to a service-connected head injury).

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate medical opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, hypertension, sleep apnea, and pes planus are being remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, but granted service connection for a bilateral wrist disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's active duty service and his current diagnosis of bilateral wrist osteoarthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudo folliculitis barbae is currently rated at 60 percent, but the Board has remanded several other issues for further development.

The Board denied service connection for hypertensive vascular disease and hypertension, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran's condition was determined to be primary in nature and not related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of its onset in service or within a year after separation from service. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a relationship between the Veteran's current hypertension and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicides. Service connection for tremors is remanded as the VA examiner's opinion regarding their etiology is inadequate.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; an open-angle glaucoma disability secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II; and hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes due to the lack of evidence showing that the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, which was linked to herbicide exposure or as secondary to a service-connected condition, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CAD with AFIB and cardiomyopathy, hypertension, sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety), erectile dysfunction, and chronic fatigue. The issues are related to the in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosis during service or within one year after separation. The Veteran's current hypertension is not considered to be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The claim for service connection for hypertension is reopened and the appeal is granted to this extent only. The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hypertension is related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than November 14, 2014 for service connection and increased ratings of various conditions. The assigned effective date is November 14, 2014.