Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, vision, severe burn injury, ALS. Therefore, the claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hypertension is dismissed. PTSD and alcohol and substance abuse disorders are granted service connection, as well as erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's lumbar strain, left knee patellar tendonitis, right knee patellar tendonitis, GERD, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and tinea pedis with onychomycosis are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records. The issues of rating PTSD, left knee osteoarthritis, bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, recurrent thrombosis of the left lower extremity deep vessels, and hypertension are all being remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is in need of such assistance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and valvular heart disease with cardiomyopathy is granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating as they require additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he is still employed full-time and his income exceeds the poverty threshold, with accommodations provided by his employer that do not constitute a protected work environment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. However, these claims are still being remanded as further medical examination is needed to determine if there is a link between the disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred during his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to incomplete records and requests for additional information. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining any missing service treatment or personnel records.

The Veteran's cause of death, respiratory failure with underlying issues of aspiration and stroke, is related to his service-connected PTSD. The Board finds that the Veteran's cardiac conditions (atrial fibrillation and hypertension) are related to his PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of current diagnosis. The claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinea versicolor are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone cause him to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants entitlement to total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for multiple conditions, including cell lymphocyte deficiency, hypogammaglobulinemia, premature ovarian failure, asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, fibromyalgia, chronic laryngitis, muscle weakness, hypertension, cholecystitis, and basal cell carcinoma, all of which are related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, methanol, and phenol.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for sciatic nerve radiculopathy and IVDS with lumbosacral strain was denied. The Veteran's hypertension was granted a 10 percent rating effective May 7, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and polyneuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities (secondary to service-connected type 2 diabetes). Service connection for memory loss and syncope is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a lumbosacral spinal fusion, residuals of a ventral hernia, and residuals of thyroid cancer are all granted. The claim for service connection for a neck disability secondary to the lumbosacral spinal fusion is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The hypertension claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions as due to herbicide exposure, finding that there was no evidence of such exposure during active duty.