Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his hypertension was caused by his exposure to herbicide agents and his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to address service connection claims, including PTSD, heart condition, and hypertension. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of various conditions, including lung abnormality and sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and kidney cancer, finding that both conditions are caused by the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for joint and/or muscle problems, hypertension, duodenal ulcer disability, and left foot disability due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board denied service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, hypertension, heart disability (Atrial Fibrillation and AICD), and low back disorder.,There is no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate June 2020 medical opinion and a need for further examination.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hypertension may be related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service, and thus a remand is required for an addendum medical opinion on direct service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of a disability as defined by VA. The claims for increased ratings for hypertension, right knee disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and Bells' Palsy syndrome are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between hypertension and herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim for service connection is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to February 23, 2017.

Service connection for Dercum's disease and hypertension (HTN) is denied as the Veteran did not have these conditions during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking them to service.,An acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied as it did not manifest in service or within a year of separation.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, and a lumbosacral spine disability due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent (Agent Orange). The Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable through no fault of his own. Further efforts to obtain these records would be futile. The Board also found that the Veteran was not exposed to Agent Orange during active service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating for his knee replacements. The Veteran will need to provide additional information about the competency of certain VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's obesity and hypertension are being evaluated further, with a focus on whether they were caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities or medications.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims are also remanded for further examination regarding his right wrist disorder, bilateral ankle disorders, right hip disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding the Veteran's eye disorders, including clarification of their nature and etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee disability, neck disability, sleep apnea, sarcoidosis, renal disease with hypertension, and posttraumatic stress disorder, have caused him to be unemployable prior to December 20, 2019. The Board has remanded the case for further consideration by VA's Director of Compensation Service.