Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be etiologically related to his conceded in-service herbicide exposure, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee condition and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claim for hypertension due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand instructions. The case is being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's heart condition, including myocardial infarction, is granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for COPD and hypertension are remanded as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if they are related to the Veteran's conceded herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment, entitling him to a TDIU.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for diabetes mellitus and heart condition. The remaining issues of hearing loss, left foot numbness, right foot numbness, and hypertension have been remanded due to new evidence and need further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, sleep apnea, diabetes, and hypertension are being remanded due to incomplete STRs and SPRs. Additional requests for these records are needed, as well as formal determinations regarding the likely level of exposure to asbestos and other environmental hazards during service. The Veteran should also be provided with VA examinations for his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability (secondary to left shoulder), right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient examination reports and need for further development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a presumptive basis due to its onset within one year of separation from active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow bursitis, chronic sinusitis, hypertension, chronic hemorrhoids, and an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD) due to missing records and incomplete evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and heart disability for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension have been denied. The claim for depression was reopened.,Service connection has been granted for ischemic heart disease as due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the claims for a compensable evaluation for service-connected fracture of the fifth digit of the right hand, as well as service connection for residuals of metacarpal fracture of the fourth digit of the right hand, nerve damage of the right wrist secondary to service-connected fractures, hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2 secondary to service-connected fractures. The claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence from a previous examination.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety, depression, psychosis, and PTSD) have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and coronary artery disease due to inadequate VA examinations, failure to consider the correct standard for nexus opinions, and need for new medical evidence regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension and CAD were not rated higher than the current assigned ratings of noncompensable for hypertension and 30 percent for CAD prior to September 19, 2011. The Board found that his hypertension did not meet criteria for a compensable rating based on diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, as most readings were below this threshold. For CAD, the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating under the revised criteria effective January 12, 1998.

The Veteran's sleep disorder, variously diagnosed as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, is granted service connection. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability and hypertension are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a right hip disability, and a right foot disability. The reasons provided include that there was no evidence of hypertension in service or within one year post-service discharge, and it is not related to his service-connected tinnitus.,For the right hip and right foot disabilities, the Board found they did not have their onset during service or were otherwise not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's service in Vietnam. The effective date is August 10, 2022.