Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his in-service conditions and his death from hemorrhage from esophageal device and cirrhosis/portal hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not related to the Veteran's military service and instead linked to his obesity and genetic risk factors. The claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for hypertension due to exposure to herbicides, as the Veteran served on a ship that was presumed exposed to herbicides off the coast of Vietnam. However, hypertension is not presumptively associated with such exposure and must be evaluated based on direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, insomnia, hypertension, and flat feet due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA opinions and additional development is needed, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion for the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been fully granted, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.,New and material evidence was not received sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection for a skin disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right foot disabilities, heart disability, ankle disabilities, and pseudofolliculitis barbae have been granted. The claim of reopening for a heart disability has also been granted. However, the issues regarding left and right ankle disabilities and left leg disability are still pending as they require further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, stage 3 kidney disease, and loss of erectile power are granted. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right leg disability, to include the knee, or hypertension that is related to his active service. The claims for these conditions are being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, including consideration of his exposure to herbicide agents and his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) due to incomplete development. The AOJ must conduct a preliminary assessment and obtain further medical explanation from the underwriter regarding non-service-connected disabilities before adjudicating the S-DVI claim.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for left knee disability, right hip disability, and sleep apnea. The claim for hypertension remains remanded as new evidence does not establish a compensable degree within one year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for fibromyalgia and IBS, service connection for hypertension and diverticulitis, and service connection for GERD due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to obtain new examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes. The decision also considered whether herbicide exposure caused the hypertension but found no sufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for carotid artery stenosis and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, attributing it to exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service. The decision notes that while hypertension is not among the presumptively linked conditions under VA regulations, recent NAS findings suggest a sufficient association with herbicide exposure. A VA examination and opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension is related to his in-service exposure.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected Parkinson's disease, and thus denied this claim. However, due to a lack of clinical diagnosis for the Veteran's hypertension condition, the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the June 2021 remand directives and has ordered another remand to obtain a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected CAD and depression disorder cause or aggravate his hypertension.