Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete, and there is a need to reconstruct them. Additionally, the VA must verify the Veteran's reported herbicide exposure in Vietnam and his claimed stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's erectile dysfunction, specifically whether it is secondary to his service-connected CLL and/or hypertension. The VA examiner should provide updated opinions on both causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure.,Obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's RLE and LLE sciatic diabetic neuropathy are each rated at 20%.,Erectile dysfunction is not granted a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that hypertension was not proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The case is remanded for an examination to determine if the headache disability is related to service or due to any service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for seizure disorder, asthma, heart condition, and hypertension as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began in or were related to service.,There is no persuasive medical evidence linking any of the Veteran's current conditions (seizure disorder, asthma, heart condition, and hypertension) to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted with a 20% evaluation.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both found to be related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral lumbar radiculopathy, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. The diagnoses are presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation of his service-connected callouses of both feet, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for the foot disability, as well as service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction secondary to these conditions are being addressed.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus II. The peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands and feet are remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to a recent update from the National Academy of Sciences indicating sufficient evidence linking hypertension to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed for possible service connection and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II. Increased rating for ischemic heart disease prior to April 12, 2022 is remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for sleepless nights was granted. The petitions to reopen claims for other conditions were dismissed.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left middle finger disability is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and heart disability (CAD) are all denied due to lack of evidence showing service connection or exposure to herbicides.,The Veteran's claim for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is also denied as there is no evidence of service connection or exposure to herbicides.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as well, with no evidence of service connection or exposure to herbicides.,Service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the hands and feet are all denied due to lack of evidence showing service connection or exposure to herbicides.,Service connection for cubital (or carpal) tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities is also denied as there is no evidence of service connection or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has denied service connection for prostate disability, and the issues of service connection for hypertension (secondary to PTSD) and erectile dysfunction (secondary to hypertension) are remanded.,Additional VA treatment records may be needed to fully evaluate these claims.

The Board has determined that the Appellant is eligible for VA benefits as the Veteran's surviving spouse, but her claims for service connection and DIC benefits need further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The claims for sinusitis, hypertension, and headaches are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his active service.