Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted, and he is awarded an initial disability rating of 50 percent for his tension headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of his claimed periods of active duty and additional verified service records are needed. The AOJ must readjudicate the claims with consideration of all available evidence.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension has been granted. The case is remanded to determine if atrial fibrillation is related to hypertension.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the development sought as part of the September 2021 remand. As a result, the claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes, brain aneurysm, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection as they did not begin during or within one year after his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities caused or aggravated his hypertension, heart disease, and/or congestive heart failure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential herbicide exposure and noise exposure during his active service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for ischemic heart disease, bilateral feet peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied. His claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were partially granted with some issues being granted and others not. The issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding no current diagnosis of hypertension and that any isolated elevated blood pressure readings during service were not indicative of a disability. The Board also found there was no nexus between the claimed condition and service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a result of exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The effective date for this grant is November 29, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for lupus, hypertension, kidney disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and sinus condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's digestive disorders, as well as whether his hypertension, hepatitis C, allergic rhinitis, and colon polyps are related to his in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to depression. The AOJ must obtain medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes, bleeding of the eyes, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and psoriasis due to unclear exposure history and pending development. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded as they may be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and bilateral hand numbness due to unresolved development needs.

The claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease, anal fistulectomy residuals, rectal scar associated with fistulectomy, acne conglobata, and hidradenitis suppurative are remanded. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is also being remanded.

The Veteran's headaches are found to have begun during service and continue today, granting service connection.,Service connection for a right knee disability was granted in July 2022, thus dismissing the appeal on this issue.,While hypertension is currently present, there is no evidence it began during service or is related to an in-service injury or disease. The claim is denied.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy are found to be at least as likely as not related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.,Service connection for a bilateral eye condition secondary to diabetes mellitus is granted.,A right-hand disability is found to have begun during service, granting service connection.,Obstructive sleep apnea is found to have had its onset during service and is related to snoring issues that began in service. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's OSA and hypertension are granted, but his GERD symptoms need further evaluation by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to his service due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for acquired psychiatric disability, stroke and multiple TIAs, and vascular dementia are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's gout is remanded for a VA examination to determine its relationship to service-connected hypertension and in-service herbicide exposure.