Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The lung cancer residuals claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or caused by service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during active duty.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including obtaining missing VA medical records and scheduling additional examinations. The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with the remaining claims.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, tendonitis, vertigo, dermatitis, GERD, hypertension, prostate hypertrophy, and hernia. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection. The effective date for left orchiectomy is set at April 1, 1991. The claim for a compensable rating for left orchiectomy remains pending.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for an initial compensable rating for hypertension, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's appeal for higher evaluations and SMC at the housebound rate prior to December 14, 2019 and since July 1, 2020 is dismissed.,The Veteran's TIA from July 1, 2020 to the present is no more than 10 percent disabling.,The Veteran's tension headaches including photophobia are granted a 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure while stationed at the Royal Thai Air Force base in U-Tapao, Thailand. Service connection for BPH and left knee injury are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and tinnitus, render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis as a chronic disease, based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to loud noises.,There is insufficient evidence of record to establish a current disability or persistent/recurrent symptoms of a disability resulting in functional impairment affecting the Veteran's earning capacity for a lower back disability. Service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, opioid use disorder, tinnitus, headaches, and hypertension are all granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted. The Veteran's claim for benign prostatic hypertrophy is dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that there is a need for additional VA medical opinions to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's causes of death, including pulmonary hypertension, COPD, and acute respiratory failure. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for chronic myelogenous leukemia, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension due to a duty to assist error in verifying the Veteran's exposure to groundwater contaminants at Fort Lee.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for hypertension. Service connection was granted for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, both being presumed due to exposure in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to issues related to the Veteran's character of discharge from service. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran was insane at the time of misconduct leading to his discharge.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient discussion of a VA examination and the need for an updated one considering recent blood pressure readings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder disorder, cervical condition, and hypertension due to a procedural issue with the docketing of his appeal under the legacy review system.