Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and erectile dysfunction due to service connection issues, including a need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right shoulder conditions, as well as hypertension and a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and because the issues of insomnia and hypertension are intertwined with this claim. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to ambiguities in the record regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes requires regulation of activities. The case is also remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of bilateral peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, specifically due to exposure to herbicides during his time in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding its relation to presumed herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic kidney disease and hypertension are granted. The TDIU is also granted, but the initial compensable rating for hypertension remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral foot disorders due to potential secondary service connection, requiring additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, headaches, tinnitus, and leukemia/lymphoma disorder due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, finding that the conditions did not develop due to military service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's attorney argued that exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam could be considered presumptive service connection for hypertension, but this was rejected by the Board as essential hypertension is not covered under such presumptions.

The Veteran's post-total knee replacement right knee disability is granted a 60 percent rating effective August 3, 2012. The claim for an increase in the 30 percent rating prior to that date was denied.,The Veteran’s hypertension is rated at 10 percent and no higher. An extraschedular TDIU rating prior to August 3, 2012 is remanded.,Bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent and a TDIU rating from the effective date of August 3, 2012 is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and cervical spine disability due to insufficient opinions regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and arthritis of the lumbar spine, respectively.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of COPD, renal cancer (secondary to diabetes mellitus type II), and hypertension (secondary to diabetes mellitus type II) due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of COPD, lumbosacral strain with DJD, hypertension, and tinea pedis have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and right eye retinopathy, as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service. The other issues were also denied due to lack of evidence supporting service connection.

Service connection is denied for right shoulder, left shoulder, and hypertension disorders.,Service connection is granted for unspecified mental health disorder (depressive disorder with anxious distress features), sleep apnea, and headaches.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's chest pain is related to her service-connected hypertension and remanded for further development.

The appeal of the claim for service connection for a right foot disability is dismissed. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PFB, left foot disability, hypertension, headache disability, and right knee and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar strain has been granted a 20 percent evaluation, effective February 21, 2017. The Board also remanded several service connection claims for further review.