Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that his hypertension was caused or aggravated by the medication used to treat his PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between her current condition and her military service. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension was not caused or aggravated by any of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including a VA radiation exposure examination to determine if any current disabilities are related to in-service radiation exposure. The cases of service connection for high blood pressure and COPD remain pending.

The Veteran's hypertension and lumbar spine disability with IVDS are granted effective November 30, 2011. The rating for the lumbar spine disability is increased to 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for emphysema has been granted. The claims for service connection for high blood pressure and dizziness, as well as the TDIU claim, are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to their potential relationship with herbicide exposure in Vietnam, as well as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer, myelogenous leukemia, and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the record since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case and remands are required for new VA examinations, medical opinions, and consideration of this evidence in evaluating the appellant's service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions including lumbosacral spine disability, right and left knee disabilities, Type II diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to a lack of recent VA examinations and potential outstanding treatment records. The Veteran's disabilities, including thrombosis, TIA, or cerebral infarction, sinusitis, hypertension, and slurred speech, are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for hypertension, as it may be related to a service-connected disability such as PTSD. The Veteran's representative suggested that hypertension is linked to PTSD based on publicly available treatise evidence. Additional VA treatment records need to be obtained and an examination should be scheduled.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension are being remanded due to inadequate opinions in the prior VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain addendum opinions from an appropriate clinician that address the etiology of each condition, including consideration of herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the VA examiner not addressing the potential inadequacies of the November 1968 separation service examination 'whisper test'. The hypertension case is also being remanded as the February 2021 VA examination did not include an etiology opinion regarding whether or not the Veteran's hypertension and service, including any in-service elevated blood pressure readings, combat related stress, and herbicide exposure therein, are related.,The TDIU claim prior to September 23, 2020 is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other claims that have been remanded.

The Board has found that additional development is required due to insufficient medical opinions and the need for further consideration of the Veteran's claims related to his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disorder, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a higher rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified alcohol-related disorder. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is reopened, but the effective date earlier than March 18, 2014 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for right knee internal derangement and degenerative joint disease, scar, status post right medial meniscectomy, painful right knee scar, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and degenerative disc disease mild and facet arthropathy, mild L4-5, L5-S1 are all denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.,The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for bilateral hip disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, low back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD).

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to clinical hypertensive cardiovascular disease, but the service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The Board found that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and denied DIC benefits based on service connection for the cause of death.