Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The appeals for service connection and reopening of claims have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed. The Board has also identified several issues that require further examination and consideration, including service connection for hypertension.,The Veteran was granted service connection for amputation of the left little toe and left little toe amputation scar on August 8, 2018.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is caused by his service-connected hypertension. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease, secondary to service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for scars, hypertension, and GERD are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's claim was previously remanded and the negative nexus opinions regarding both diabetes mellitus and herbicide agent exposure were disregarded.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood. A disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted effective November 24, 2015.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted based on his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hypertension in the record.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (Insomnia) is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for prostate cancer is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for genitourinary disorder, to include BPH, is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.,Service connection for flat feet is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for a VA opinion.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to properly assess the Veteran's right eye conditions, as they may be related to service-connected traumatic brain injury. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for strokes, diabetes mellitus type II, myocardial infarctions, hypertension, and coronary artery disease due to incomplete development of the Veteran's service records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, OSA, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and a bilateral foot disability due to lack of in-service diagnosis or exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection was not granted on a direct basis as there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left and right shoulder, knee, back, and hip conditions, are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Multiple issues were remanded, including heart disorder, prostate disorder, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorder, headache disorder, skin disability, sinus disorder with allergies, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, gout, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension is granted as it is presumed due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act.,The effective date of service connection for CAD is set at March 1, 2017. The earlier effective dates for prostate cancer and its residuals (ED with SMC and a prostatectomy scar) are also granted based on the liberalizing law that added these conditions to presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claim for ED is granted as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer, with an effective date of March 1, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis to diabetes mellitus, type II. The decision is based on the presumption of herbicide exposure due to service in Vietnam and the Veteran's history of both conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the grant of service connection for hypertension, effective from April 4, 2011. The RO should readjudicate the TDIU after considering the newly-added disability and any other relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the rating reductions were not proper. The appeals are remanded to further develop evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus with ED and cataracts. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea, including its secondary relationship to the above conditions, is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension as due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent, finding that his in-service exposure is presumed and resolving any reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Female Sexual Arousal Disorder and Tinea Pedis are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's service connection claim for Recurrent Tinnitus is granted based on her credible testimony about the onset and continuity of symptoms. The Board finds that she has competent, credible testimony regarding tinnitus.,The Veteran's service connection claims for Anemia, Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes, Right Knee Disability, Left Knee Disability, Right Extremity Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Left Extremity Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and Right Foot Plantar Fasciitis are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board also finds that the Veteran did not have a knee condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, or plantar fasciitis in service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for Insomnia was referred back to the Regional Office for appropriate development and adjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should have been afforded a VA examination to determine the etiology of his right shoulder condition, hypertension, GERD, and IBS. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions, including hypertension, right wrist sprain, left wrist sprain, and left knee strain. As a result, there are no remaining issues to be decided.