Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of compliance with previous directives, including obtaining a dose estimate from the Under Secretary for Health. The case is now referred back to the VA Under Secretary for Health and then to the VA Under Secretary for Benefits.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service, including herbicide exposure and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease and hypertension due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations, particularly regarding his service from July 1974 to July 1978. The case is being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, PTSD, and hypertension. The remand includes obtaining updated treatment records and requesting an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome and hypertension, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is presumed to have entered service with a pre-existing heart condition (Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome), which may or may not be aggravated by in-service symptoms such as sleep deprivation and physical training. The Board also requested an examination to determine the etiology of hypertension.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, bilateral ankles, and arthritis of his entire body. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction due to insufficient examination findings. The examiner is requested to provide opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service, including Operation Just Cause, or aggravated by other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for right ankle disability, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes.

The Board denied a compensable rating for service-connected hypertension, finding that the Veteran's diastolic pressure was not predominantly 100 or more and his systolic pressure was not predominantly 160 or more. The Veteran takes medication for his hypertension but does not have a history of diastolic pressure at 100 or more.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded due to inadequate reasons and bases in the January 2021 Board decision. The issue has been returned to the Board for readjudication, including addressing evidence favorable to the Veteran and obtaining non-VA medical treatment records related to his service-connected eye disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's right and left arm disabilities are granted as service-connected. The claims for OSA, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension remain pending due to remand requirements.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his heart disorder, hypertension, and bilateral hip conditions. The claims will be reviewed with updated evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service. The Board found no medical evidence linking the condition to service and noted that the first diagnosis of hypertension occurred many years after separation.

The Board denied service connection for OSA, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for heart disability, hypertension, bilateral hand disabilities (carpal tunnel syndrome and gout), as well as type-II diabetes mellitus and liver disability due to exposure to tactical herbicide agents. The Veteran's service records do not support his claim of exposure to such agents during service.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be etiologically linked to his active-duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, heart disorder, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and right leg neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, granting his claim for TDIU.