Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The decision resolves any reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to missing private treatment records and a need for supplemental medical opinions. The Veteran's complaints of hip, knee, and post-herpetic neuralgia will be evaluated in light of his service history and any new evidence.

The Veteran's painful right knee scar is now rated at 10 percent, and his hypertension is granted service connection.,Obstructive sleep apnea remains in dispute as the appeal has been remanded.

The Veteran's need for a higher level of aid and attendance, necessitating hospitalization or other institutional care, is granted from April 8, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for determining whether the Veteran's hypertension began during his active military service or is otherwise related to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and kidney disease, but denied service connection for lower extremity weakness.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis prior to September 11, 2012 due to his service-connected hypertension and its complications.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is not caused or aggravated by his mental health disability and is not otherwise related to service. The Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and kidney disability, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus to service or secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been granted. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea, hypertension, and acid reflux for further development to determine their etiology and whether they are related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disabilities, including congenital right and left eye conditions, were denied service connection as they are considered congenital defects not subject to superimposed disease or injury. The non-congenital right eye disability (exophthalmos) and the non-congenital left eye disability (nuclear sclerotic cataract with reduced visual acuity/blurred vision) were also denied due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's terminal lung cancer and other service-connected conditions are granted, with a total disability rating for lung cancer. Service connection is granted for thyroidectomy scar, hypertension, and right lung transplant with scar. However, service connection is denied for balance issues, left eyelid cancer, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, glaucoma, and bilateral cataracts.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee conditions, stomach condition to include GERD, hypertension, COPD to include as due to asbestos exposure, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for additional development including obtaining medical opinions on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examiner's opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, heart condition, and high blood pressure. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction (ED), right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative withdrew all pending claims before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral sinus disability, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension. The respiratory disability issue was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected conditions. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 1, 2014. The claim for earlier effective date of SMC based on housebound status is denied as the Veteran was not permanently confined to his home prior to January 23, 2014.