Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and his thoracolumbar spine disability and left foot disorder are granted. The remaining issues of service connection for heart disease, elevated cholesterol, and tuberculosis/positive PPD remain remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. Additionally, an opinion on whether his hypertension, presumed due to service connection, caused or aggravated his fatal metastatic sarcomatoid RCC will be provided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance/housebound due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The decision does not address the Veteran's claim regarding his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, cataracts, neuropathy of the lower extremities, heart condition, hypertension, and kidney condition is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension and left knee condition was denied. The claim for diabetes with hyperglycemia with glycosuria is being remanded.,New evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes, but it remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 14, 2012, for the addition of his spouse as a dependent to his VA disability compensation award was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date due to the lack of timely submission of claims and information.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been received to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a heart disorder, hypertension, low back disorder, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy, right and left knee disorders, and bilateral foot disorder. As such, these claims are denied.

The Veteran's claim contesting attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the January 2021 rating decision is dismissed because there was no review request of the initial AOJ decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis, hypertension, gout, right foot condition, and left ankle condition are granted. The claims for right foot condition and left ankle condition are considered related to the service connection claim for gout.

Service connection for hypertension is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities remains pending as remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney cancer and hypertension, both potentially related to herbicide agent exposure. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents and secure any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated higher due to the lack of diastolic blood pressure predominantly 100 or more, and systolic blood pressure predominantly 160 or more.,The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy remains at a 30 percent rating as there is no evidence supporting a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to welding fumes and its relation to his pulmonary hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, hemorrhoids, and CTS were reopened due to new evidence submitted. The effective date for the award of service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is set at May 19, 2015.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Lynchburg General Hospital on November 10, 2017, were denied as the treatment was not for a service-connected disability or an aggravating non-service-connected condition. A VA facility was feasibly available and using it beforehand would have been reasonable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, hypertension, and diabetic retinopathy have been granted. The PACT Act of 2022 has made hypertension presumptively service-connected.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes and hypertension, as well as the TDIU claim due to failure to substantially comply with previous remand instructions. The Veteran's diabetes and hypertension are being requested to be reviewed by a clinician to determine if they were caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and chronic kidney disease for further development, including obtaining medical opinions to address the Veteran's contentions regarding the onset and causation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with an addendum VA examination to address his hypertension claim.