Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected IHD or psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's death was caused by respiratory failure with associated respiratory distress, hypoxia, and hypotension due to malabsorption, diarrhea, malnutrition from his gastric bypass. His service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Veteran's hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea are not found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD and depression, NOS.,Both conditions were diagnosed post-service and do not have a direct link to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal issues, respiratory disability (COPD), bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea have been reopened. However, the Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and secondary service connection for atrial fibrillation and left ventricular hypertrophy, both related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's heart disability from February 27, 2020. The remaining claims (service connection for hypertension and increased ratings for low back and bronchial asthma with sleep apnea) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his pituitary tumor and its residuals, including hypertension, kidney disease, loss of vision, and hormone imbalance, with VA treatment.

The Veteran's hypertension is not manifested by a diastolic pressure of predominantly 100 or more, nor does he have a history of such requiring continuous medication. As a result, the claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension, allergic rhinitis, low back disorder, shin splints of the left leg, and shin splints of the right leg have been dismissed. The appeal for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disorder, hypertension, and bilateral foot disorder due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The VA examiner is required to provide an addendum opinion addressing the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability at the time of filing or during the appeal period. For hypertension, the Board also found no evidence to support a presumption based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to potential secondary effects from his service-connected PTSD and possible exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.

The Board has dismissed all claims, including service connection and increased evaluations for various conditions, due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that her in-service MST is sufficiently corroborated and grants service connection for PTSD based on MST. Her hypertension claim is remanded as it requires a VA examination to determine if it is related to her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of discussion in the VA examination regarding the potential link between hypertension and presumed herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 5, 2010 for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction. The issue of a prior effective date for hypertensive kidney disease is remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a headache disability, hypertension, a disability manifested by swelling of the joints, and nerve damage of the bilateral lower extremities due to new and material evidence. The appeals are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 6, 2017.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the VA medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C and hypertension are caused or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities, specifically her TBI.