Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated as noncompensable prior to January 13, 2020. The Board has remanded this issue for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disorders as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is attributable to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the current evidence does not provide sufficient competent medical evidence to decide whether the Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis and hypertension are related to his active-duty service, specifically his exposure to radiation while performing radiographic images. The Board is therefore remanding the case for further development.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's back, psychiatric disabilities, hip, shoulder, knee, and other conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to hearing loss, tinnitus, skin conditions, diabetes mellitus type 2, right eye blindness, hypertension, cancer of the jaw, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The issues are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, coronary artery disease (claimed as a heart condition), diabetes mellitus, type II, kidney disability, cervical spine disability, back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, and right knee disability. The Board found no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction (ED) as presumptively related to exposure to herbicides during service in Thailand. The claims are based on the PACT Act of 2022 which added a presumption of herbicide agent exposure for Veterans who served at U.S. or Royal Thai military bases in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, hypertension, and prostate cancer due to alleged exposure to herbicide agents during service. The claims are being remanded for further development including verification of exposure and a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right knee disability, and anxiety disorder have been granted service connection. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, low back disability, and hypertension have not met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus because the submitted evidence did not provide new and relevant information that could change the outcome of the case.

The Board denied service connection for prostate condition, cold weather injuries of the upper and lower extremities, arthritis, and depression as there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted with an effective date of November 1, 2019. The Board found the Veteran was unable to engage in substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities as of this date.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension is granted, with the PACT Act presumption of exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for hypertensive heart disease as secondary to service-connected hypertension is also granted.,The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to new theories of entitlement not previously addressed.,The issue of service connection for a skin rash is remanded due to the possibility that it may be related to the Veteran's hypertension medication.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding sleep apnea and whether it is proximately due or aggravated by hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, GERD, and residuals of prostate cancer due to a lack of formal findings regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents or napalm. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for gastrointestinal disability and hypertension. The Veteran's GERD is being examined to determine if it may be related to his active service, including complaints of diarrhea and frequent indigestion from a post-deployment health assessment. For hypertension, an addendum opinion must consider the Veteran's use of over-the-counter medications that can increase blood pressure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional consideration of new evidence, including VA examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed due to herbicide agent exposure during service, and the Board grants this claim.