Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to his service-connected IBS.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected hypertensive heart disease and his claimed vascular hypertension. The Veteran is seeking service connection for vascular hypertension, which he claims is related to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and hypertension have been denied.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to a lack of evidence showing their onset during or within one year after service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete record requests for the Veteran's private treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and ensure they are sent to the correct address.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include back condition, hypertension, skin disorder, and an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and valvular heart disease for further development due to inadequate VA opinions addressing whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his heart conditions and their relationship to service. The issues of service connection are related to various heart disabilities, including a heart murmur, an aortic valve replacement, and other secondary conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) and disability manifested by dizziness and loss of balance.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2 is presumed due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange). The Board granted service connection for the other conditions as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his active duty service and his current diagnosis of hypertension.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's heart conditions, including his history of myocardial infarction and hypertension. The examiner is asked to determine if these conditions are related to service, particularly exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and kidney disorder secondary to hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension was incurred in service, if it caused or aggravated his kidney disorder, and if illicit drug use proximately resulted in his disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it is related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether this relationship exists.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart condition and hypertension, both presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and stroke residuals, as well as their secondary relationships. The claims are being remanded to allow for this.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back condition, hypertension, left hip and right hip conditions, skin disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), and non-healing surgical wound. The appeals were not granted.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied, as the disability has been productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,The Veteran's CAD was rated at 60 percent since March 23, 2015, due to renal dysfunction with constant proteinuria (albuminuria) and persistent edema. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's urinary infrequency and diabetic nephropathy were granted a 60 percent rating since March 23, 2015, due to renal dysfunction with constant proteinuria (albuminuria) and persistent edema. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was denied an initial compensable rating.,The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve was granted a 20 percent rating since November 4, 2016. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve was denied an initial compensable rating prior to November 4, 2016 and granted a 20 percent rating since that date.,The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve was denied an initial compensable rating prior to November 4, 2016 and granted a 20 percent rating since that date.,The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the femoral nerve was denied an initial compensable rating prior to November 4, 2016 and granted a 20 percent rating since that date.,The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the musculocutaneous (superficial peroneal) nerve was denied an initial compensable rating.,The Veteran's skin disorder was not service-connected, as it is not considered to be a result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active duty or caused by a service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's ED was not service-connected, as it is not considered to be a result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active duty or caused by a service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's non-healing surgical wound was not service-connected, as it is not considered to be a result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active duty or caused by a service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and COPD are all found to be secondary to his service-connected asthma. However, the Veteran's hypertension is not established by the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to ischemic heart disease and hypertension, finding that there was no credible evidence of service in Vietnam or exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's conditions were not deemed service-connected.

The Board has decided that another remand is necessary due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected sleep apnea with asthma.