Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not establish a causal relationship between these conditions and any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The decision on service connection remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, back disability, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been dismissed as they were resolved by a prior rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension due to herbicide exposure has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to her inability to meet the criteria set forth in VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, headache disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The remand is due to incomplete evidence from private medical centers and SSA records, as well as an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's back disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected, with an effective date of March 21, 2017.,An earlier effective date of March 21, 2017 for the 40 percent rating assigned for lumbosacral strain and discogenic disease is granted.,Service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (claimed as diverticulosis) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a prostate disability (claimed as prostate cancer) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are all remanded due to lack of evidence regarding their relationships with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for osteopenia is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD, hypertension, and asbestosis due to new evidence received since the last final decision.

The Veteran's claim for compensation for blurred vision as a residual of right ear tympanic membrane perforation with chronic cholesteatoma status post-surgical repair is denied.,The Veteran's hypertension claim, which includes service connection due to PTSD and herbicide exposure, is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a breathing disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension due to issues with the examination reports and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and headaches due to exposure to herbicide agents or as secondary to PTSD or CAD. The Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD). Headaches are related to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and etiology opinions due to the Veteran's assertions of increased disability severity and new evidence submitted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's asthma and hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be related to his active duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to his service-connected coronary artery disease. Additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, right knee disorder, hypertension, and left ear hearing loss due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in previous decisions and the need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hypertension, and their relation to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension due to insufficient examination reports addressing whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected disabilities.,Specifically, the Joint Motion found that the March 2019 VA examination was inadequate because it did not address obesity as a potential intermediate step in establishing service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, myositis (myopathy), hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and prostate cancer due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between hypertension and herbicide exposure.