Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus with paresthesia, hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been reopened. The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during service and remanded his claims for these conditions due to insufficient evidence of a connection between his current conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, as they are related to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The case will be reviewed again with a focus on establishing secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the effective date for DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death should be November 1, 2013, as this is the earliest allowable effective date based on the relevant law and regulation pertaining to DIC claims. The appellant’s October 2013 claim was interpreted by the AOJ as including a claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting VA opinions regarding whether the Veteran's heart disorder is related to his service-connected PTSD or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The case will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the heart disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board found that his combined service-connected disability rating is 30 percent, which does not meet the threshold requirements for a TDIU. The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to non-service connected disabilities such as back and hip issues.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to chronic kidney disease with hypertension and migraine headaches. The case is now before the Board again due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The hypertension claim is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding its relationship to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral eye disorders, hypertension, and a genitourinary disorder has been dismissed. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for recurrent bilateral cerumen impaction, vitamin D deficiency, left and right foot ingrown toenails, boutonniere deformity of the right 5th digit, allergic rhinitis, external hemorrhoids, hypertension, right knee instability, left knee instability, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis have been granted. The Veteran's service connection claims for initial compensable rating for hypertension, initial 20 percent rating for right knee instability prior to September 21, 2020, initial 30 percent rating for right knee instability from September 21, 2020, initial 20 percent rating for left knee instability prior to September 21, 2020, and initial 30 percent rating for left knee instability from September 21, 2020 have been granted. The Veteran's service connection claims for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee osteoarthritis have not been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension manifested during active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, and erectile dysfunction. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a right shoulder disability. The claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, hypertension, and heart disorder due to additional development of the record being necessary.

The Board denied service connection for heart attack, lower back disorder, right hip disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The appellant did not have a current disability of these conditions at the time of his claim.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection as they are moot due to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, sleep disorder, hypertension, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and right lower extremity neuropathy. The AOJ is instructed to obtain medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and cervical strain, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The claimant also had a combat injury during service which is presumed to have caused or aggravated his current cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and respiratory disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,New claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use dependence), heart disability (claimed as ischemic heart disease and/or residuals of stroke), hypertension, and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has restored service connection for Chronic Kidney Disease with Hypertension and found the severance of service connection for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Upper Extremity and Right Upper Extremity to be proper.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, a neurological disability (specifically tremors), and a respiratory disability (asthma) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA is instructed to obtain additional evidence and provide new examinations to address these issues.