Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, finding it is at least as likely as not that these conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea, hearing loss, hyperlipidemia, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and hypertension, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether these conditions had their onset during active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and chronic kidney disease due to insufficient compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's hypertension may be secondary to his service-connected ischemic heart disease, but a medical opinion is needed to address this theory of entitlement. For chronic kidney disease, there was no VA medical opinion addressing whether it is related to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to his exposure to herbicide agents during active-duty service in Vietnam, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and pulmonary heart disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during his active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Board also remanded several issues including entitlement to initial ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss, as well as the reopening of claims for PTSD, right knee disability (now status post total replacement), and left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to February 13, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral shin splints, refractive disorder (eye condition), and obesity have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received.,The Veteran's claim for left ankle disability was granted based on the submission of new and material evidence. The right ankle condition remains pending due to remand.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding service connection for hypertension, which is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. The examiner must consider a new study from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine that upgraded hypertension's association with herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, including pulmonary fibrosis and excluding asbestosis with pulmonary arterial hypertension. The Board also denied his claim for TDIU due to the severity of his other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes have been granted. Hypertension is related to herbicide exposure, while diabetes is presumed due to Vietnam service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and now also associated with his service-connected OSA.

The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The initial rating for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted at 40 percent. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding hypertension.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for coronary artery disease, as the Veteran's representative withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has found that additional evidence is needed to determine if new and material evidence has been received for several service connection claims, including sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, left leg injury residuals, bilateral knee arthritis, left thigh numbness (secondary to lumbar strain), gout, depression, and high cholesterol. The Veteran's SSA records are requested as they may be relevant.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a disability manifested by chronic pain. The evidence does not support an in-service incident or injury that could link these conditions to active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular TDIU evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a TDIU rating.