Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues, including hypertension and acid reflux, as well as a claim for a TDIU due to his death.

The claims have been reopened, but further examination and evidence are needed to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is dismissed. The Board has remanded multiple issues including service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus disorder, bilateral eye disorder, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), headache disorder, thyroid disorder, diabetes mellitus, respiratory disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The Veteran's hypertension appeal is also remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes and hypertension are granted as service connected due to military environmental exposure, with the presumption of exposure for diabetes. The hypertension is also linked to his now service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, residuals of radiation test, peripheral arterial disease with leg pain and swelling, and residuals of head surgery due to missing records from his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, pancreatitis, and a low back disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

Your appeals for service connection for cardiovascular disorder, HTN, and a lung disorder have been dismissed as you opted into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).

The Veteran's hypertension, which requires continuous medication for control but has not been productive of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, is rated as noncompensable. The Board found the evidence against a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 28, 2017, for the award of special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance. The evidence did not show that the Veteran met all eligibility criteria for a retroactive payment of NSP or SMP benefits as of September 17, 2001, due to lack of evidence showing he was disabled in any way prior to March 28, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension and kidney disorder, including preeclampsia. The remand is due to insufficient evidence in her claims file.

The claims for service connection have been remanded due to the receipt of new and material evidence. The Veteran's hypertension, respiratory disability (shortness of breath), low back disability, and bilateral leg disability are all at issue.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to his service-connected conditions, specifically diabetes mellitus and PTSD.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for various conditions, including COPD, Graves' disease, stomach problems, chronic pain syndrome, coronary atherosclerosis with stent, hypertension, reflux, and psychiatric disabilities have been granted. The issues of service connection for otitis externa, otitis media, cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to address certain factors in the previous decisions.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for a new VA opinion to determine its etiology, including the conceded herbicide exposure. The claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea secondary to his service-connected PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete service treatment records and missing medical evidence. The Veteran's complete service treatment records, VA treatment records, and any relevant prison and private care records must be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection due to his June 2018 VA Form 9 not being timely filed, as clear evidence has not been presented to rebut the presumption of regularity in the mailing of the July 2017 Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (psychiatric condition, hypospadias, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension) have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and tinea pedis, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to November 1, 2018. The claims are being returned for further development.