Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and hypertension, including secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown as chronic in service or within a presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology was not established.

The Board has granted service connection for breast cancer and right arm lymphedema as secondary to service-connected breast cancer. However, the Veteran's hypertension remains unresolved due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship with PTSD or service-connected breast cancer.

The Veteran's hypertension is associated with his service-connected sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis. The claim of service connection for skin cancer remains pending as it requires further examination.

The Board has withdrawn the claims of service connection for urticaria and angioedema. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder/anxiety/PTSD), TBI (head injury), right ankle disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), chronic pain syndrome, hypertension, digestive disorder, and sleep disorder have been remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and headaches due to inadequate VA examinations, failure to address lay statements and private medical opinions, and lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, heart disease, and hypertension. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that these conditions are directly related to active military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and nephrosclerosis due to incomplete responses to the remand directives.,Specifically, the March 2021 VA examiner's opinion on hypertension was not fully responsive to the Board's remand directives.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for hypertension, service connection for elevated liver enzymes, and right hemi-facial spasms are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence not previously considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to insufficient evidence or conflicting opinions, including arthritis, back disorder, cervical spine disorder, neurological disorder of the right upper extremity, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a heat stroke, and headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, kidney disease, and allergies due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran is also dismissed from his appeals on separate compensable ratings for paranoia and insomnia, as well as a TDIU prior to August 18, 2016.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because his employment as an assistant manager at a car wash is considered substantially gainful, and he has not provided further clarification of his employment status.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Type II diabetes mellitus, right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, cataracts (right and left eyes), hypertension, respiratory disability, recurrent ear disabilities, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted due to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand. The appeals for a right eye disability, left eye disability, and service connection for recurrent ear disabilities are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, ischemic heart disease (including coronary artery disease), and PTSD prior to March 11, 2021. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's initial rating of 30 percent for PTSD prior to March 11, 2021 is granted.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and his heart condition or ultimate death. The Board considered multiple medical opinions but found them inconclusive.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, and right eye disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during or related to active service.,Service connection was not granted based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents due to lack of such association with the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions are inadequate and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran's tremors and hypertension are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between his military service and the condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, finding that new evidence supports reopening of the claim for erectile dysfunction. The hypertension claim is also remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding its relationship to herbicide exposure and PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding the relationship between hypertension and service, as well as its relation to a service-connected knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the relationship between hypertension, service connection for diabetes mellitus, and exposure to herbicide agents.