Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records, which may contain relevant medical information.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to non-compliance with previous remands. The main issue is related to increased ratings for nephropathy with hypertension and PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for kidney disease/kidney cancer with metastasis, residuals of loss of a kidney, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran currently has hypertension and whether it was incurred in service or caused by his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood aggravates his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various orthopedic conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for right lower extremity sciatica/radiculopathy and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions provided in the July 2020 VA examination. The Veteran needs additional addendum opinions from an orthopedist and internist, respectively.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and migraine headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his right shoulder condition, major depressive disorder, obesity (related to OSA), and hypertension. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.,The Veteran's left knee disability and right knee disability have not been linked to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disorder, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran is requested to provide names and addresses of all medical care providers who have recently treated him for his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, COPD, hypertension, and a left eyelid disability due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. Additional medical opinions are needed in each case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service or herbicide exposure. The decision also noted that hypertension is not listed as a presumptive disease under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to hypertension, finding that the evidence did not reasonably support a finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension. The case is remanded for further action on claims related to TDIU and SMC.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and heart disease due to insufficient development. The Veteran's hypertension is not shown to have been caused or aggravated by active duty, nor is it shown to have initially manifested within a year of discharge from active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran’s lay statements regarding exposure to Agent Orange were not credible due to lack of medical training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as he has already been awarded a 100% combined rating for his service-connected disabilities. The increased rating for ureterolithiasis with hematuria and hypertension is remanded due to lack of compliance with previous Board directives.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's kidney stones are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected hypertension and diabetes, but a new medical opinion is needed to determine if they were aggravated by these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are secondary to his service-connected PTSD or foot disabilities, including medications taken for each.