Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and right knee disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of all conditions that contributed to the Veteran's death, including exposure to herbicide agents. The Appellant is also required to be substituted as claimant in the claims for service connection for leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, stomach pains, acid reflux due to asthma, esophagus damage (difficulty swallowing), hypertension, and heart condition have been denied as secondary to service-connected asthma. The RO found no evidence of these conditions during or after service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for stomach pain has been denied because there was no diagnosed condition related to the claimed symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inaccurate legal standard used in previous opinions regarding the aggravation of hypertension by service-connected PTSD or medication. The Veteran's hypertension is being requested to be evaluated again for potential aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam due to herbicide exposure. The hypertension case requires further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to service, including potential aggravation by PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, and hypertension. Service connection for ischemic attacks is also granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is not service-connected.,Diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.,Kidney disability and recurrent hypertension are not service-connected.,Erectile dysfunction is not service-connected.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction has been granted based on new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the condition did not start during or as a result of military service and was not due to exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, hypertension, and eye disability have been granted. The claim for ischemic heart disease is denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper right extremity and an eye disability.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, hypertension, right foot and left foot disabilities, and hip disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for an initial compensable rating for hypertension before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's initial claim for erectile dysfunction was granted, but the rating assigned is noncompensable. The effective date of service connection and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ has been denied.,Service connection for headaches and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted as secondary to other conditions. Service connection for hypertension has not been established.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is manifested by loss of erectile power, but no penile deformity was noted. The effective date for service connection and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ cannot be earlier than September 9, 2020.

The Veteran's sinusitis, GERD, and knee disabilities are found to have onset during service. Service connection is granted for sinusitis. The issues of service connection for GERD, hypertension, right knee disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to incomplete service records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of erectile dysfunction, including as due to Agent Orange exposure or related to his service-connected prostate hypertrophy and diabetes mellitus, is remanded. The Veteran's claim for SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ (erectile dysfunction) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudication, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's METs level and whether a TDIU is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of frostbite, low back disability, asthma, high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and anemia have been dismissed as the Veteran has opted into the AMA review system.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to herbicide exposure. The esophageal condition, including GERD and hiatal hernia, is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for narcolepsy with cataplexy is denied as there is no current disability. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence against this claim.,Service connection is granted for right ear hearing loss due to aggravation during active duty, but not related to herbicide exposure.