Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of hypertension, arthritis, macular degeneration, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, anxiety, and various musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 8, 2010. The Board has granted the TDIU from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions and potential new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if any of the Veteran's heart conditions are related to his service, including herbicide agent exposure. The examiner is also asked to consider all relevant evidence of record, such as medical records and treatment notes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure, removal of uterus and left ovary (bleeding cysts and hot flashes), lower back pain, and body aches to include as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Board also remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for constipation to include as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension can be adjudicated. The case was previously remanded, but there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities. The VA examiner did not provide sufficient rationale for their opinions, and failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements and medical articles.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service or herbicide exposure. The examiner concluded that hypertension is not related to his heart disability and did not find any link between it and his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not pre-exist the Veteran's period of active duty from September 2010 to October 2011 and was not aggravated by such service. The Board also found no evidence of a chronic disability during any period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran was granted TDIU beginning April 1, 2008. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of that date.,VA denied an extraschedular rating for migraine headaches prior to April 1, 2008.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and an eye disorder due to potential service-connection based on herbicide exposure or secondary to a service-connected condition.,The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an artery or vein disorder, as it is inextricably intertwined with the hypertension claim. The gastrointestinal disorder claim remains pending.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder due to potential service-connection based on herbicide exposure or secondary to a service-connected condition.,The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an eye disorder, as it is inextricably intertwined with the hypertension claim.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 70 percent, granting a higher rating than previously. Service connection has also been granted for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and hypertension.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for PTSD and diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide exposure. The rating for PTSD remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and attempting to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicides. The claims are being remanded due to a lack of proper development in previous decisions.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have hypertension during service or until many years after separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, diabetes, hypertension, and tinea corporis was granted. The claim for service connection for diabetes is remanded.,Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, hypertension with cerebral vascular residuals, and tinea corporis has been established.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus and its secondary effects, due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during and after service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and its potential impact on his health conditions, including hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay assertions of a post-service diagnosis within one month of separation and in-service complaints of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of the assigned percentages for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues related to service connection.