Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2021

The Board dismissed all reopened service connection claims for various conditions, including back pain, hip conditions, diabetes, and hypertension. The decision also dismissed the claim for an increased rating for persistent depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus and herbicide exposure. The Veteran seeks service connection based on both diabetes mellitus and herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active duty service and rejecting any presumption of herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and anemia due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of a compensable rating for hypertension and service connection for sleep apnea due to new evidence received after the March 2019 decision. The Veteran's hypertension claim is being remanded for consideration of staged ratings, while the sleep apnea claim requires an addendum opinion regarding whether it is 'undebatable' that the condition existed prior to his period of active service and was not aggravated by periods of active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension due to deficiencies in the previous VA examination opinions. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected disabilities, specifically bilateral hearing loss and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial evaluation of his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder was denied. The issue of service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to the service-connected depression, has been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and PTSD, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from May 21, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, including his hypertension, coronary artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The VA is instructed to obtain the Veteran’s complete VA treatment records and verify any herbicide exposure or Gulf War service environmental exposures.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and a compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and kidney cancer residuals due to in-service herbicide exposure or secondary to prescribed medications. The case requires further development with an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether hypertension is aggravated by a service-connected heart disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate January 2021 VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and his hypertension. The examiner is asked to provide a rationale for any negative etiology opinion, considering the August 2018 private medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and herpes as there was no evidence of a link between the conditions and active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between her military service or service-connected PTSD and her current diagnosis of hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and atrial fibrillation, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after the Veteran's military service. The VA opinion concluded that both conditions were not caused by Agent Orange exposure.,The Board also found that neither condition was related to any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional verification of his exposure to herbicide agents and further examination for heart conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's hypertension has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under DC 7101, as her diastolic blood pressure has been predominately less than 110 and systolic blood pressure has never met or exceeded 200.