Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran had a thymic cyst of the left vocal cord, which resulted in residual scars and migraine headaches. Service connection was not granted for hypertension or erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart condition, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke due to insufficient medical evidence on file.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,There is no evidence of current chest pains or muscle pains due to service-connected conditions.

The claim to reopen the matter of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet has been denied. The claims for substitution purposes regarding kidney condition, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory condition (COPD) have been remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and sleep apnea are granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and special monthly compensation due to the need for aid and attendance or housebound status. The hypertension claim is being remanded for additional medical opinions on whether it is at least as likely as not related to service, specifically exposure to asbestos, and whether it was aggravated by service-connected asbestosis with interstitial lung disease.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Veteran's asthma with sleep apnea has not met the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's skin disability (bilateral tinea pedis) is currently rated as noncompensable, and his hypertension is also rated as noncompensable.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for lower back pain.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, left hip disability, right hip disability, and right shoulder disability. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded as the Veteran did not undergo a VA examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, diabetes, and thyroid disability are all granted as service-connected due to exposure to jet fuel during active duty. The claims for chronic bronchitis, hypertension, and back disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for heart disorder and secondary service connection for hypertension due to a lack of evidence establishing their onset during qualifying periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The Veteran's myocardial infarction occurred during an IDT period, while her hypertension status remains unclear.

The Board has denied service connection for diverticulosis and remanded other issues related to sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, GERD, an acquired psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, and a left arm condition are remanded due to the inextricability of these claims with respect to the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of hypertension and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, arthritis (other than of the back or neck), a neck disability, a low back disability, and a psychiatric disability due to incomplete development and potential errors in medical opinions. The claims will be further developed to include verification of qualifying service periods and comprehensive examinations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and PTSD was denied. The earlier effective date claim for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases of Buerger's disease and hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran claims these conditions are related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the cases of right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, and hypertension for further development. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed to determine if there is a relationship between his disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents and remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange and that the Veteran's conditions did not have their onset or manifest within one year of discharge. The Board also found that the Veteran's conditions were not otherwise causally related to his military service.