Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and pulmonary hypertension, specifically whether they are related to his ACDUTRA service or if they were caused by his service-connected cardiac arrhythmia.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence of these conditions during active service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's symptoms were not continuous or recurrent in service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn and dismissed. The Board has also remanded several claims due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), type II diabetes mellitus, and lumbar spine condition. The Veteran's claims for diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction (ED), and hypertension are being remanded due to the lack of a rationale in the existing medical opinions.,The Board has not assigned a disability rating or effective date as these issues have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions addressing the Veteran's credible statements of continuous symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and other issues are being remanded due to errors in the duty to assist. Specifically, the AOJ did not inform the Veteran that a VA Form 21-4142 was invalid and therefore unable to be processed. Additionally, new opinions are needed regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's GERD is remanded for further analysis regarding its relationship to service-connected PTSD.

Major depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and hypertension have been granted service connection.,Alcohol use disorder is remanded for a VA medical opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II warrants a 40% disability rating, but no higher. The issues of service connection for erectile dysfunction and hypertension due to diabetes mellitus are remanded as VA opinions are needed.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed to decide the claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and tinnitus. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service symptoms are considered, as well as VA treatment records.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected. The claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension have been reopened.,However, the claims are still pending as they need further examination to determine if service connection can be established.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, as his service-connected disabilities make him unemployable.,Claims for earlier effective dates for left lower extremity radiculopathy and hypertension are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his Agent Orange exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disorder due to lack of evidence supporting exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service.

The Board has granted service connection for left kidney renal cell carcinoma, finding it related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to conflicting opinions on its etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether his obesity was an intermediate cause of his claimed disabilities, and whether any of his sleep apnea, hypertension, back condition, or radiculopathy were proximately caused by or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hernia, hemorrhoids, kidney stones, colitis, and high blood pressure are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bladder cancer and insomnia, have been granted. The claim for a right shoulder disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for hypertension. The low back disability claim is denied.