Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, ED, and hematuria. The Veteran's hypertension is not related to his active duty from January 1991 to August 1991, as it pre-existed this period of service.,ED was not shown to be due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disability (hypertension). Hematuria also did not begin during service and is not related to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's eye disabilities, including ocular hypertension and any related cataracts or glaucoma. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule a comprehensive eye examination to determine the severity of service-connected ocular hypertension and any other diagnosed eye conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's thyroid disability is causally related to her in-service childbirth complications, including preeclampsia.

The Veteran's obesity and heart murmur claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.,Service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, lumbar spine stenosis, and Barrett's esophagus cannot be established due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran needs to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.,The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction claims are remanded as the current opinions do not address whether they are related to service or service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.,Service connection for lumbar spine stenosis and Barrett's esophagus cannot be established due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran needs to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for hypertension, COPD, and elevated PSA before the Board could make a decision. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service personnel records, specifically for his periods of active duty for training and inactive duty training in the Louisiana Air National Guard and Connecticut Air National Guard from 1989 to 2011. The VA is instructed to obtain these records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 18, 2012. The claim for hypertension was denied as there was no evidence of its onset during or immediately after service, and the VA examiners' opinions supported this finding. For TDIU, the Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to January 18, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for skin disability is dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and right knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that there is no evidence showing that PTSD caused or aggravated the hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active service, finding that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low blood sugar, vision disorder, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, numbness in the bilateral hands, and numbness in the bilateral legs, thighs, and feet due to outstanding evidence needed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD results in an inability to manage and appropriately take his daily medications, requiring the regular assistance of his wife to protect him from this daily hazard. The Board granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, residuals of stroke, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, bilateral lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, left leg paralysis, left arm paralysis, and left eye disability due to potential herbicide exposure in Korea. The AOJ is instructed to verify this exposure and then readjudicate the service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected hypertension since October 1, 2014 is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and discussion of relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to several issues, including addressing whether hypertension is related to service and considering if PTSD aggravated or caused obesity.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on service-connected hypoxic disorder, mental health and cognitive disorder from May 23, 2016. He is also granted SMC from May 23, 2016.,The Board has referred the issue of entitlement to a TDIU for the period from August 31, 2012 to May 23, 2016 on an extraschedular basis pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) to the Director of Compensation Service.,The Veteran's claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence showing he was unemployable solely based on his service-connected disabilities during the period from August 31, 2012 to May 23, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU effective May 1, 2013.