Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's skin disorder and hypertension are service-connected, with the skin disorder being granted due to its onset during active duty. The TDIU claim is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection decisions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's heart condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), eye disorders, shortness of breath, hypertension, kidney disorder, heart disorder, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, are all denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of rating a disability related to right eye conjunctivitis with keratoconus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disorder, hypertension, bilateral foot disorder, right ankle arthritis, and allergic rhinitis has been granted. The claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, left knee scars, PTSD, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and other conditions have been denied.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection and TDIU due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently evaluated as 0 percent disabling, and service connection for anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified (NOS), is granted.

The Veteran's claims for malaria, hypertension, and arthritis were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including residuals of testicular injury, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, bilateral cataracts, psychiatric disability (depression), and obstructive sleep apnea, was granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating determinations due to an inability to obtain certain medical records from Saints Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence suggesting possible exposure to herbicides during service, which could potentially establish presumptive service connection. The Veteran's service in the USS Platte is under review to determine if he was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam.

The Board has withdrawn all issues related to service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a left knee condition. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during combat operations.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II and its secondary effects on peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are granted. The eye disability is also linked to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, stroke, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, hypertension, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder due to inadequate addendum opinions from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if his condition was related to active duty service.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, with the most probative evidence showing he is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gallbladder condition, hiatal hernia, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus. The rating for lumbar spine disability was also denied. However, a separate 10 percent rating was granted for right lumbar radiculopathy, and a 70 percent rating was granted for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an erroneous report of his death.,The issues of service connection for PTSD, asbestosis, adjustment disorder, hypertension, bilateral eye disorder (including cataracts, arcus senilis, pinguecula, and refractive error), coronary artery disease, and dizziness are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for vitamin D deficiency, hoarseness, pleuritic chest pain (to include as secondary to a service-connected disability), heart condition (to include congestive heart failure) and to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, digestive disorder (excluding IBS) and to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, neck condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, restless leg syndrome, gout, right kidney cyst, urinary incontinence, migraine headaches, and otitis media are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran has not been diagnosed with a current heart condition. An additional VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any potential heart condition.