Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, colon polyps, hypertension (HTN), erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus (DM). The remand is due to verify whether the U.S.S. Theodore E. Chandler sailed within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam or within the waters outlined in 38 U.S.C. § 1116A while the Veteran was aboard.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a private medical opinion. The Veteran's hypertension may be related to his service-connected PTSD, but this needs further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but additional development is needed due to insufficient evidence of direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension was granted, and his claim for higher ratings for knee disability is remanded. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and heart disorder, finding that further examination is needed as well as clarification on herbicide exposure. The heart condition claim was previously denied due to inadequate medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, colon cancer, throat disability (esophageal spasms), hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and/or exposure to herbicide agents. The VA is required to schedule the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues. The claims will be reconsidered with additional development.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is granted as service connection due to a current diagnosis and the Board finding it was incurred in service.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within one year after separation, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support its relationship to service.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or a relationship to service-connected conditions. The Board found that it was likely due to medication use rather than service.,Service connection for a right ankle disability is denied as there are no records showing an in-service injury, and the current condition does not have a nexus to service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange, during his Vietnam-era service. The Board found the evidence in equipoise and granted service connection based on this presumption.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension are not related to his active service, including as due to in-service asbestos exposure or service-connected bronchiectasis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's DM2 is related to service-connected CAD and/or HTN, or if it had its onset in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection was denied for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer of the left ear, prostate cancer, and herniated disc as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing condition at entry into service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have hypertension during his period of active duty or within one year after discharge. Therefore, the Board concluded that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for PTSD, hypertension secondary to diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The Veteran must undergo further examinations to address the credibility of his stressor claims and the medical link between his conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of adequate medical opinions and potential need for additional evidence. The claims are now pending with the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to issues with range of motion, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's knee conditions are being reviewed for additional evidence during flare-ups, while opinions on the causes of his hypertension and diabetes mellitus will be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension, bilateral upper and lower diabetic peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, OSA, and hypertension are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected DM II and PTSD.,The Veteran's dermatitis is not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected DM II and PTSD.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not serve in Vietnam or Thailand where herbicide exposure is presumed. The Board denied both the cause of death claim and the burial benefits claim.