Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Vietnam.

Service connection for hypertension is granted due to presumed exposure to burn pit emissions. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, is remanded.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to the Veteran's right eye pterygium, respiratory condition (asthma), cervical spine disability, left shoulder condition, hypertension, bilateral upper extremities numbness and cramps, dental issues, and PTSD. The claims are being returned to the RO for additional medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating determinations as the Veteran died during the pendency of these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disability, as well as an increased rating for right knee disability. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding it presumptively related to herbicide exposure. However, the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not considered a disability for VA purposes and thus service connection is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The AOJ is instructed to obtain the Veteran's complete reserve service personnel records, including all DD Form 214s issued after 1991.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be etiologically related to his conceded in-service herbicide exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension. The claim must be returned for further examination and an adequate opinion.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand, and the decision is based on the PACT Act.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, hypertension, respiratory disability, psychiatric disability, back disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral elbow disability, and bilateral shoulder disability. The evidence does not show current disabilities for any of these conditions.

Service connection is granted for hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for cardiomyopathy is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are denied as the effective date for both benefits is February 27, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of chloracne and concluded that the Veteran does not have a disability due to exposure to herbicides, fuel, paint, lead, PCBs, or isocyanates. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted effective March 24, 2017. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity were also granted effective March 24, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches, chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, hypertension, and ulcers due to issues with service connection. The VA is required to obtain a VA opinion regarding whether these conditions are secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the condition was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension is attributed to reserve service periods where elevated blood pressure readings were noted but not sustained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his active service and denied the claim. The claims for initial disability ratings, left knee chondromalacia patella, right knee chondromalacia patella, gastroduodenitis, diverticulitis, and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The appeals for service connection of various conditions have been dismissed.,The appeal for service connection of OSA and an acquired psychiatric disorder has been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and GERD are all granted. The decision is based on the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure in Thailand.