Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hammertoes, hypertension, muscle and joint disorders of various body parts, upper and lower gastrointestinal tract disorders, eye disorder, sleep apnea, surgical scars, and headache disorder due to incomplete service records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of hypertension on the Veteran's ability to work. A new VA examination is needed to provide an adequate rationale for the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records, including those from Dr. M., and further examination.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and chronic sinusitis as the evidence did not show that these conditions started in service or were related to service.

The Veteran's chronic sinus disorder is currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board has granted a 10 percent rating for this condition.,Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder remains remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further evidentiary development, including obtaining additional VA and private treatment records relevant to the Veteran's cardiovascular condition. The Veteran is also required to provide an opinion on the nature and etiology of his heart conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for asthma, hypertension, and skin condition due to insufficient opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's sleep apnea and alopecia are denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's skin tags are service connected as they began during active service and have persisted since then.,The Veteran's patches of numbness and/or hypersensitivity are not service connected. The Board found that the symptoms did not manifest within one year of service or to a compensable degree.

The Board has remanded the claims for nephritis with pyelonephritis and hypertension due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no legal basis for a higher rating.,The Veteran's service-connected hypertension and ED are not service connected. The RO is instructed to obtain medical opinions addressing whether these conditions were incurred in service or caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder is granted as service-connected. The issues of service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, hypertension, and a heart disease (claimed residual of a heart attack) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted, and an effective date of September 6, 2019 has been established. The earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection is also granted. The combined rating for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities has been recalculated and confirmed as 40 percent effective September 6, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, right wrist disability, left shoulder disability, and psychiatric disability (depression). The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension due to a lack of medical records related to his treatment. The VA is instructed to attempt to obtain these records.

The Board has determined that the remand is necessary to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed hypertension, specifically whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions and/or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's kidney disability, inversion injury to the left ankle, and hypertension have been denied. The inversion injury to the left ankle and hypertension are being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange or asbestos, and for further development related to service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The claims for service connection have been granted, and the Veteran is now entitled to benefits for her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension and Gulf War unexplained illness (chronic multi-symptom illness) are both remanded for further evaluation. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to assess the severity of his hypertension, and another addendum opinion is needed regarding whether his symptoms of fatigue are due to an undiagnosed illness or a diagnosable disorder.