Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a change in the National Academy of Sciences' Agent Orange Update 11 (2018), which now considers hypertension as associated with herbicide exposure. The examiner must review this update and determine its relevance to the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease, peripheral and median neuropathy of the upper left extremity, peripheral and median neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The appeals seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, hypertension, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, left hip disability, left quadricep disability, heart disability, and colon cancer have been dismissed.,The appeal seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder), obstructive sleep apnea, and headaches has been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and the claim for a TDIU. The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by his military service, nor is there evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service. Service-connected prostate cancer and diabetes did not cause or aggravate his hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and PTSD, diagnosed as anxiety disorder) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective February 2, 2021. The RO denied increased ratings for chronic sinusitis and GERD, but granted service connection for hypertension secondary to herbicide exposure and denied service connection for allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran needs aid and attendance or is housebound based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for cold injuries, residual of the right hand and left hand, hypertension, unspecified depressive disorder, loss of memory or TBI. The claims for a bilateral hip disability secondary to service-connected orthopedic disabilities and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease, finding that there is no evidence of in-service onset or a link between the two conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral eyes disorder, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis of the entire system.,Service connection was not granted for these conditions as there is no evidence of an in-service event or disease that could be linked to the current disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Service connection for a right knee condition, back condition, bilateral hip condition (to include bursitis), hypertension, herniated disc neck, and nerve damage are also being remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted a rating of 20 percent effective November 13, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran's blood pressure readings since this date were predominantly higher than 110, warranting a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy, as well as left eye disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and hypertension due to incomplete VA examinations and lack of private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for SMC-AA was filed on September 11, 2006. The Board granted an effective date of September 11, 2006, but no earlier, for the award of SMC-AA.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues, including service connection for hypertension and increased ratings for low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a skin disability was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, is granted based on evidence showing that it is related to active duty service. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension may be secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease, with the latter being secondary to the former, have been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, heart disability, and skin disability due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claims are being reviewed again as there is conflicting evidence regarding the onset of these conditions during service or their relationship to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions and incomplete development regarding herbicide exposure. The claims will be further developed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in service, which could affect his claims for heart disabilities, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension.