Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional service personnel records and verifying any unaccounted-for periods of active duty. The Veteran's hypertension is being considered on the basis that it may have been aggravated by his service-related duties.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee and left knee disabilities due to incomplete development. The decision on service connection for hypertension is denied.

The appeal of a service connection claim for albuminuria is dismissed. The service connection claims for insomnia, tinnitus, anemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (diabetes), bilateral knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), plantar fasciitis, acquired psychiatric disability, female sexual arousal disorder, and tinea pedis are referred back to the Regional Office for appropriate development and adjudication.

The Veteran's surviving child is granted additional accrued benefits in the amount of $5,000 for expenses incurred during his mother's last sickness.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.,The Veteran's hypertension and atrial fibrillation with congestive heart failure are granted secondary service connection due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2.,The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis, right hip condition, and left hip condition do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service, including potential exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune or Agent Orange exposure. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining updated medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's cause of death is listed as hypertension, but the appellant contests this. The AOJ must obtain medical records from his final hospitalization and provide a medical opinion regarding whether service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to falls resulting in death.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection for bilateral open angle glaucoma and hypertension. The Veteran's eye disability is presumed to have existed prior to service, but there is uncertainty about his exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, finding that there is at least equipoise of evidence in favor of a nexus between the conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and hypertension was granted. The right ear hearing loss claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and erectile dysfunction due to insufficient evidence regarding presumed herbicide agent exposure in service. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with an addendum opinion from a VA clinician.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not related to the Veteran's military service or any other condition. The claim was based on exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, but hypertension is not listed as a presumptively related disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a kidney disorder, and stroke residuals due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA service. The RO is instructed to verify these dates and provide the VA examiners with the exact dates of all periods of Army Reserve service by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records, specifically regarding VA and private treatment for hypertension. The Veteran's claim will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange), and his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of hypertension and remanded it for further development.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a heart disorder, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence. The claims are remanded for further development regarding exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals. The Board has also remanded several issues for further examination.