Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Appellant's National Guard service and the relationship between his back condition, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims will be further developed with additional medical records and a VA examination if necessary.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy, restless leg syndrome, GERD, and hypertension as the symptoms were found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service, including any potential aggravation by his service-connected foot disability. The VA is instructed to obtain National Guard treatment records and schedule a VA examination for an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to herbicide agent exposure during active service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD, but has remanded it due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran was found to be gainfully employed throughout the period of appeal and thus not unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including thyroid disability, psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disabilities, avitaminosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and arthritis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development of evidence related to these intertwined claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hypertension (HTN), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a traumatic chest wall defect, status post closed pneumothorax, and hemorrhoids due to incomplete development of records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and potential service connection based on Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but has remanded the cases of right shoulder disability and left shoulder disability due to insufficient evidence. The respiratory condition case is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction (ED), alopecia, pseudofolliculitis barbae, left shoulder osteoarthritis, left elbow tendonitis, neck pain, hypertension (HTN), and rhinitis were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal of these claims before the decision was promulgated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart condition, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD) due to potential herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The RO must verify the Veteran's service on ships within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam and schedule a VA examination if necessary.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, heart disability, and hypertension due to incomplete development of evidence and potential exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as due to herbicide exposure. The issues of entitlement to service connection for vertigo, anemia, obstructive sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart disability (including CAD) and hypertension, finding that these conditions are related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

Service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted. The Board finds the Veteran's hypertension may be related to service, including herbicide exposure, but an opinion on aggravation by diabetes is needed.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease (claimed as secondary to hypertension) due to the lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or continuity of treatment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for hypertension, GERD, Barrett's esophagus, kidney disease stage 1, and cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The issues of service connection for kidney stones and entitlement to a TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected congestive heart failure. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and reactive arthritis are remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of COPD, emphysema, a sleeping disorder (OSA), and hypertension due to the death of the Appellant.