Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection as it is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for hyperlipidemia is denied due to lack of a disability for VA benefits purposes. The Veteran's gout is remanded and will be reviewed based on exposure to herbicide agents or aggravation by service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and gastritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, the issue of secondary service connection for hypertension due to diabetes mellitus remains remanded as a medical opinion is needed.

The Veteran is granted TDIU based on service-connected disabilities from October 19, 2006 and TDIU based on depressive disorder alone from October 25, 2019.,Effective October 25, 2019, the Veteran also receives SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), and a heart condition or chest pain resulting in functional impairment due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA examiners. The examiners were directed to provide opinions on whether these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated beyond their natural progression by service-connected psychiatric disorder, as well as whether obesity is an intermediate step between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a non-compensable level, and his dysphasia and gastroesophageal reflux are denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The appeal for high cholesterol is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of hypertension, right hip disability, left hip disability, TBI residuals, seizure disability, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 20% from November 29, 2011. The Board also found that he was not unemployable due to his service-connected conditions prior to March 29, 2012.

The Board dismissed the appeals for hypertension and scar on nose, status post chip nasal fracture due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, secondary to service-connected PTSD, is denied.,A rating of 20 percent is granted for residuals of a right foot injury from March 7, 2016.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims of service connection for heart disease and hypertension can be adjudicated. The case must be remanded to obtain VA medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service-connected migraine syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, nerve condition of the bilateral lower extremities, bilateral knee disability, gouty arthritis, and diabetes mellitus type II (DM). The only issue not related to service connection was sickle cell trait.,Service connection was denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his conditions and service or service-connected disabilities.

The claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues with the adequacy of previous examinations and opinions, as well as the need to address potential secondary service connection based on herbicide exposure and other factors.

The Board has dismissed all claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent from March 18, 2013 and continuing thereafter. The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy is granted a 30 percent rating from March 18, 2013 and continuing thereafter.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his chronic renal insufficiency with hypertension is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and another examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, cerebrovascular accident (a stroke), and chronic kidney disease due to inadequate examinations and failure to address herbicide exposure. The SMC claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.