Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected anemia, should be remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. The TDIU claim prior to April 5, 2012, is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to his service-connected diabetes. The VA will obtain additional evidence and provide new medical opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are currently rated based on their severity. The PTSD claim is being remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran’s hypertension has not met the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code. His erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The PTSD claim requires additional evidence to determine if it warrants an increased rating.,Service connection for hepatitis, agoraphobia, and sleep disturbance was denied in previous decisions that were not appealed. Service connection for hearing loss, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, low back disability, kidney disease, ear disability, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are being reopened.,The Veteran's spouse’s need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as service-connected.,His hypertension does not warrant a compensable initial disability evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not directly related to service or secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis or PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, a bilateral eye disorder, missing toes of the right foot, and a quarter of the left leg amputated. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for various service connection and rating issues, including those related to sleep apnea, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral shin splints, right forearm condition (elbow limitation of flexion), right wrist sprain, migraine headaches, and sinusitis. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's agreement with the RO's determinations on these issues.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the entire period on appeal. The hypertension claim has been granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) with mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy of the left eye, after finding that there is equipoise evidence supporting this claim.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, to include as secondary to CAD and hypertension due to a new theory of entitlement raised by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension likely began during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the claim of service connection for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and denied service connection for hepatitis C, a liver condition, and a digestive system condition. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, renal failure, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to be evaluated again due to inadequate medical opinions regarding his service connection claims. The new VA examination and opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension were caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lupus, fibromyalgia, left hip disability, right hip disability, sinus disability, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, hypertension, and kidney disability due to unresolved medical opinions regarding causation or aggravation.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an independent medical expert's opinion regarding whether PTSD aggravated hypertension, leading to congestive heart failure and causing the Veteran’s death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting opinions and a need for further medical evaluation regarding the Veteran's hypertension, service-connected diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, and PTSD.