Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is presumptively service connected due to herbicide agent exposure, but remanded for further development as there are no VA examinations of record. The claims for chronic hip and hand disabilities were also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension due to a VA provider's cut salivary gland procedure. The AOJ must ensure all directives from the November 2022 Board remand are performed, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions if necessary.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for anxiety disorder unspecified was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim within one year of discharge.,An initial rating in excess of 70 percent for anxiety disorder unspecified was denied due to the absence of total occupational and social impairment.,A rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches associated with hypertension was denied as the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran was granted service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD on February 18, 2015. However, he is denied an initial compensable rating for hypertension.,An earlier effective date of February 18, 2015, was granted for the grant of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and atherosclerotic artery disease, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of hypertension before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure during service, and the PACT Act has added this condition to the list of presumptive disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for high blood pressure as a result of exposure to herbicide agents, effective from the date of the decision. This is due to the PACT Act and the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for urticaria has been reopened and granted. Service connection for hypertension is also granted due to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act.,Service connection for a back disability, glaucoma (secondary to DMII), stroke residuals, and neurological disability of the lower extremities (sciatica) are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and hypertension are granted. The claim for a prostate condition is remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a presumptive condition due to herbicide agent exposure. The claim for service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension prior to August 10, 2022, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus. The Veteran contends that his diabetes mellitus began during service, but the VA examiner did not adequately address this claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including determining if he was exposed to herbicide agents during his military service and whether his current conditions are related to such exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension are presumed to be related to service due to exposure to herbicide agents. However, the direct service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their cause.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for giant cell aortitis/arteritis and heart disorder (claimed as ischemic heart disease) has been reopened, but new evidence does not support reopening the claims.,The Veteran's hypertension is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The claim for secondary service connection for H. pylori is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic headaches, hypertension, and lumbar strain was denied. The Veteran is already in receipt of the maximum schedular ratings for these conditions.,The Veteran's cervical spine fusion with multi-level neural foramina narrowing received a 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions provided were not sufficient to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. These matters are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD, Sleep Apnea, Liver Cancer, and the service connection claims for Peripheral Vascular Disease of the Bilateral Lower Extremities and Hypertension due to herbicide exposure have all been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and headaches under the PACT Act. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee, shoulder, lung, hip, skin, ED, and OSA disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder and remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence of unemployability.