Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left hip osteonecrosis and hypertension due to conflicting opinions on their etiology. The RO is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions regarding direct service connection, as well as any aggravation or pre-existing nature of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, a heart disability, sleep apnea, and headaches. The Veteran's tension headaches are now granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of hypertensive heart disease with left ventricular hypertrophy associated with essential hypertension is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a sleep disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and COPD as secondary to herbicide exposure due to insufficient evidence on record.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal of his claims for service connection for high blood pressure and PTSD. As a result, the Board cannot consider these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions alone did not render him in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Veteran's blood pressure reading at separation was 130/88, which is considered prehypertension by the National Institute of Health. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's hypertension and peripheral neuropathy are related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, allergic rhinitis, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, left and right knee disabilities, and erectile dysfunction. Additional development is needed as VA examinations are required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Parkinson's disease, hypertension, and a cardiac disability must be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to noise during service, but there are insufficient records of asbestos exposure in his military history. Further development is needed to verify these exposures.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to his service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the inadequate and confusing nature of the May 2020 VA medical opinion. The Board requires a new examination by a nephrologist or urologist to determine if CKD was caused by or aggravated by hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for reactive airway disease, GERD, CAD, and hypertension are remanded due to the submission of new evidence after a previous denial. The Board finds that VA must readjudicate these claims as they may be related to exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for facial rash is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a facial rash.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension is denied due to the lack of evidence showing diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more.

The Board has remanded the claim for hypertension due to a failure of VA to obtain treatment records from Hampton VAMC, and for an addendum medical opinion.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for a back injury, bipolar disorder, headaches, and hypertension. Therefore, these claims remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), as well as his claim for service connection for hypertension. The Veteran will need to undergo new examinations, and additional VA treatment records must be obtained.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of dental condition for treatment purposes only. The decision is pending further development.

The Veteran's hypertension and peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The Board also requires a neurological examination to determine the etiology of his upper and lower extremity nerve disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for hidradenitis suppurative and related secondary service connection claims due to in-service vaccinations, lack of contemporaneous records, and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for both hypertension and insomnia, finding that these conditions are not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.