Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board has denied service connection for Crohn's disease, right lower extremity blood clots, high blood pressure, prostate problems, left-hand disorder, and bilateral lower extremity circulation problems as these conditions are not shown to be related to active duty service.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was dismissed due to the absence of a controversy at issue. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with bilateral nuclear cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction was denied as his diabetes does not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to May 31, 2016 due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis is presumed via PACT Act.

The Veteran's hypertension was found to have manifested within a year after separation from service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and missing treatment records from Dr. Christenson.

The Veteran's temporary total disability evaluation for convalescence following his April 2012 coronary bypass surgery is denied because the service-connected condition was not established at the time of the alleged convalescence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's representative requested additional medical opinions addressing whether his service-connected major depressive disorder (MDD) caused or aggravated these conditions, as well as whether obesity acted as an intermediate step between his service-connected disabilities and these disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to his military service. The Veteran's lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and hypertension have been remanded for further examination.,The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam but does not meet the criteria for early-onset peripheral neuropathy or sufficient evidence of an association with hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded as the VA examinations were insufficient in addressing his contentions regarding secondary service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for atrial fibrillation is being remanded as the VA examinations were insufficient in addressing his contentions regarding secondary service connection and herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is being remanded as the VA examinations were insufficient in addressing his contentions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions had their onset during the Veteran's military service.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to service connection and other claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and musculoskeletal conditions of the spine and extremities. The main focus is on obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the nature and severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the service connection claim for hypertension due to insufficient evidence in the VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran needs a supplemental opinion that addresses all high blood pressure readings during and after service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated higher than 40 percent prior to August 25, 2020, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter.,Service connection for lung disability other than pharyngeal cancer (to include chronic bronchitis and emphysema) due to in-service herbicide exposure is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 1, 2016. The Board denied the claim for TDIU on both schedular and extraschedular grounds.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a failure to obtain VA treatment records and provide an adequate statement of reasons or bases regarding whether staged ratings are warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cardiovascular disabilities and his presumed herbicide agent exposure during service. The VA examiner is requested to review all relevant records, including the March 2008 hypertension diagnosis and the National Academy of Sciences' study on Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the bilateral hips is granted as secondary to her service-connected spondylosis of the lumbar spine. The claims for hypertension and a bilateral wrist disability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and right ear skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service.