Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board has decided that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, which is claimed to be secondary to her service-connected hypertension, should be remanded for further examination and medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing records and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed again for service connection, causation by PTSD, and causation or aggravation by NSAID use.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and will address the TDIU claim after resolving the service connection issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disability.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus (DM) is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that DM was caused by or aggravated by service-connected asthma/bronchitis.,Service connection for hypertension (HTN) is denied due to lack of a diagnosed condition and no indication that it is related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issues of gait instability, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, neuropathic bowel incontinence, peri-rectal pain, acute post-operative pain, and neuropathic pain. The case is being returned to the Board for further development.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, eye disorder, memory loss, and chest pain. The cases are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to potential service connection based on herbicide exposure. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed again as there may be a new update from the National Academy of Sciences regarding its association with Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, hepatitis C, and PTSD were denied. The case was remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's asbestosis is rated at the maximum level of 100 percent from January 3, 2011 to March 15, 2016 and from March 20, 2018 to April 10, 2019.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied. The initial rating of 20 percent for the lower back condition prior to September 1, 2017 is granted, but a higher rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter and in excess of 40 percent from December 13, 2019 is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a skin disorder, and hypertension. The Board found that there was no verified in-service stressor supporting PTSD, insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to service, and no chronicity of symptomatology post-service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear employment and income history, and for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU on behalf of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for ocular hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that these conditions were not incurred or caused by active service. The Veteran's current diagnoses of ocular hypertension and coronary artery disease are considered to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and hypertension as secondary to service-connected tension headaches. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and the medical opinions provided did not support a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current respiratory disability, hearing loss of the right ear, or right ankle disability. The Veteran also did not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, right index finger metacarpal fracture, left ear hearing loss disability, positive tuberculosis skin test, hypertension, hemorrhoids, scars of the right knee, left ankle, and tailbone, or hidradenitis suppurativa. The Veteran's TBI claim was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to a need for additional medical opinion regarding the relationship between his hypertension and his in-service herbicide exposure. The claim is also being reconsidered as it was reopened on new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for retinopathy, insulin reaction (previously claimed as adrenal cortical hypofunction and Addison’s Disease), and hypertension. These conditions are found to be directly related to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type I.