Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and bilateral foot disorders. The VA examiner's opinions are inadequate as they do not address the Veteran's contentions regarding her work history and post-service symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and kidney disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to herbicide exposure during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, acinic cell adenocarcinoma, hypertension, and bladder disorder are denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that is related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners to address the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and hypertension.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for hypertension and traumatic brain injury due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left wrist fracture residuals, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a current disability or chronic symptoms during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hypertension.

The Board has reopened the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence received since a final December 2007 rating decision. The remaining issues on appeal, including those related to back disability and other conditions, are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to presumed in-service herbicide exposure. The VA examinations are needed to provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, with peripheral neuropathy; hypertension; and coronary artery disease (CAD), to include as secondary to hypertension.

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 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 claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no current hearing loss disability in the right ear, and left ear hearing loss was rated at 0 percent. Hypertension, GERD, cervical spine degenerative joints with herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar spine herniated nucleus pulpous with radiculitis down posterior leg, right knee effusion/degenerative changes, left knee degenerative changes, and OSA were not granted increased ratings or service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, nausea (now claimed as gastroesophageal reflux disease), and muscle tension headaches due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's claims are now before the Board again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and OSA, finding that there are incomplete medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Board remanded the issue of service connection for malaise and fatigue, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and GERD for further development.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for hypertension, but denied the claim itself due to a lack of evidence showing an increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues of service connection for vascular dementia, hypertension, and peripheral artery disease are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The claims are being returned for further development.