Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to secondary disabilities, including fatigue, stress, depression, weight gain, and other conditions related to hearing loss. The issues are being reviewed again as part of a broader examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for heart disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and genitourinary disability due to incomplete records and further development is required.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease, but remanded the issue of service connection for sleep condition due to lack of a proper medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip condition, left knee condition, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hip condition have been reopened. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension (HTN) and chronic renal disease remains denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), tension headaches, recurrent tinnitus, and a lumbar spine disability has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for emphysema, erectile dysfunction, and chronic kidney disease are remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The other issues have been addressed with decisions granting or denying service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 9, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran was still employed at the time of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for left great toe arthritis, bilateral pes planus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), prostate cancer, hip disability, and skin disability to include skin tags due to issues with obtaining additional opinions addressing secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons or bases for its determination regarding service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's obesity may be considered as an intermediate step between his service-connected disabilities and his hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating of 70 percent effective June 26, 2019.,Service connection for hypertension is denied. The Veteran's new and material evidence has reopened the claim, but service connection remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran had hypertension on entrance into service and if it was aggravated by service. The case will be reviewed with a new medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding whether his service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his claimed conditions. The issues include sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, multilevel degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, basal cell carcinoma, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to have been caused by in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The claim for increased rating for CAD from October 1, 2014 to July 16, 2015 was granted with a 60% disability rating. The claim for increased rating for CAD from November 1, 2015 to May 26, 2021 was denied. Service connection for hypertension is granted due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. The claim for secondary service connection for COPD due to CAD was denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for jungle rot of the bilateral feet due to new and material evidence. The claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and ischemic attack or stroke are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The right and left lower extremity vascular disorders are denied, with the examiner finding no direct or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension is caused by his schizoaffective disorder, and his heart condition (variously diagnosed as cardiomyopathy and hypertensive heart disease) is caused by both his hypertension and his service-connected schizoaffective disorder. Service connection for these conditions has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet, OSA, supraventricular arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus type II with ED, PTSD, Barrett's esophagus with GERD, upper extremity tremors, and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.