Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence linking his current diagnosis to his active duty service or any service-connected conditions. The Board also found insufficient evidence of a link between his hypertension and herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of evidence linking his current disabilities to military service, including herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran was found not to meet the criteria for TDIU as he had multiple service-connected disabilities rated at 90% combined.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that there is reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and resolving it in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents, is being remanded. The VA will obtain any outstanding records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to address his diagnosed heart conditions and pacemaker, with consideration of his conceded exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, skin rash, and hemorrhoids were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, fragment wounds to the left arm, right arm, and head, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety) and a lung condition. The denial is based on the appellant's dishonorable character of discharge from active military service.,The Board found that the appellant had two periods of AWOL in excess of 180 days during his period of active military service, which resulted in him having 1,764 days of time lost. The Board did not find compelling circumstances for the first period of AWOL.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and right eye condition, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship to service or any service-connected conditions. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support secondary service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have had their onset in service.,There is no evidence of a current gout disability or functional impairment due to gout.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is that it is not related to service, while hypertension remains under review.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, Achilles tendinitis (right side), and Achilles tendinitis (left side) have been granted increased ratings. Service connection for hypertension has also been established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a TDIU are remanded due to the need for updated examinations, authorization of medical records, and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service and that any isolated elevated blood pressure readings do not meet VA criteria for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability is denied because the Veteran does not have a service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, residuals of cholecystectomy (removal of gallbladder), and thyroid disability, to include Grave's disease and hypothyroidism. Service connection was denied for hypertension and psoriasis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits were dismissed due to his withdrawal of these issues. The claim for an additional allowance for dependents was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and right knee disorder due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. Specifically, a VA examination is needed to determine if hypertension clearly and unmistakably preexisted service, was aggravated by service, or is related to service. Additionally, a cardiologist's opinion on the current severity of the heart disability and its impact on employment is required.

The Veteran's appeal was denied because his substantive appeal was not filed within the required time frame, as it was received more than one year after the May 2017 rating decision and more than sixty days after the June 2019 statement of the case.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an eye disability as secondary to hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a link between the disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's heart conditions, including hypertension and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, are being reviewed again by another examiner.