Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea due to additional development being required, including obtaining medical opinions on the relationship between these conditions and service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain, right foot degenerative arthritis, and hypertension. The Veteran's conditions are related to her active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for ocular hypertension and remanded the issues of service connection for retinopathy. The Veteran's claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of sight is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were not granted. The Board found new and relevant evidence was not received to readjudicate the claims of acquired psychological disorder, sleep apnea, or esophageal reflux. However, the Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), and hypertension have been granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension, plantar fasciitis (left and right feet), and erectile dysfunction were dismissed. The appeal for chronic fatigue syndrome was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of right knee disability, service connection for headache disorder, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board requests that VA medical professionals provide updated opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's disability evaluation for hypertension was reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent, but this reduction is found to be improper due to the lack of evidence showing actual improvement in his condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected PTSD, hypertension, and exposure to environmental hazards. The VA will need to provide a thorough examination and opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's hypertension, secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder, is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diffuse atherosclerotic disease, secondary to his service-connected hypertension, is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's CAD, secondary to his service-connected hypertension, is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is denied as not related to active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral arthritic foot condition, lumbar spine condition, hypertension, and bilateral sciatica as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Board has determined that there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remanded the cases for further development and consideration.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for service connection of TBI, posttraumatic headaches as secondary to TBI, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for back condition and hypertension are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's Hepatitis C and hypertension have been granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran's Hepatitis C was incurred during active service, while his hypertension is secondary to his now service-connected Hepatitis C.

The Board has decided that a new examination and opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, or if it was caused by herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, claimed as sinusitis, is granted on a presumptive basis. The appeals regarding the other issues are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder rotator cuff injuries, as well as hypertension. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking these conditions to his active service.,Service connection was also denied for erectile dysfunction (ED) and cervical spine strain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which was linked to herbicide exposure, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with this appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and kidney disease due to exposure at Camp Lejeune have been dismissed as the appeal is moot due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient information regarding his exposure to herbicide agents in Guam. The Veteran served in Guam from November 1968 to May 1970, and he contends that he was exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during this time.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea. There is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after the Veteran's separation from service.