Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypertension have been denied. The effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains December 22, 2014.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives, and additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims. This includes verifying Southwest Asia service during the Persian Gulf War and providing in-person examinations for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected. The Veteran's vision and left knee disabilities are denied as not related to service. The Veteran's hypertension and stroke are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction due to in-service herbicide exposure. The remand requires an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not related to his presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded all claims for review by the AOJ due to additional medical evidence being associated with the claims file since the December 2018 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of hypertension has been denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for OSA, DM and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has granted service connection for tinea pedis, pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor bumps), and hypertension. However, the claims for a bilateral shoulder condition, back condition, and diabetes are remanded as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and back disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and seizure disorder due to potential exposure to hazardous chemicals during service. The issues are being remanded for further development including obtaining personnel records, researching exposure history, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, service connection for bilateral osteoarthritis of the feet secondary to service connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, service connection for vertigo, including dizziness and giddiness, secondary to service connected migraine headaches and/or tinnitus, and service connection for a traumatic brain injury are all remanded.,The Veteran's claims will be further evaluated based on the evidence provided during the hearing and any additional records obtained.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, but denied all other issues due to lack of evidence or failure to meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. Service connection is established for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder), bilateral hands and feet disabilities, bilateral knees disabilities, hypertension, back, neck, hips, shoulders, legs, left shoulder condition, right shoulder arthritis, left-hand condition, right-hand condition, back condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, right leg condition, left leg condition, left foot condition, and right foot condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for a more recent VA audiological examination.,The Veteran's respiratory disability and headache disorder claims are remanded due to inadequate April 2018 VA examinations.,The Veteran's intervertebral disc disease (IVDS) claim is remanded for a thorough and well-reasoned opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his lower back disorder.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded for a nexus opinion, as the April 2018 VA examination was inadequate.,The Veteran's congestive heart failure claim is remanded due to its inextricability with the remanded hypertension and respiratory disorder claims.,The Veteran's bilateral eye disabilities claim is remanded for further evidentiary development based on his lay assertions regarding the onset of symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of the 10% disability rating for hypertension, finding that no evidence of worsening within a year prior to August 26, 2016, justified a higher rating. The appeal is considered a freestanding claim and thus barred by law.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, prostate cancer, and hypertension are granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least approximately balanced as to whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Guam. Therefore, herbicide exposure is conceded. As the medical evidence establishes that he has CAD and prostate cancer, service connection related to herbicide agents is presumed. Service connection for hypertension is granted due to reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for hypertension, as secondary to PTSD, due to incomplete records and a need to obtain the Veteran's service dental records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include bilateral shoulder, elbow, lumbar spine, right ankle disabilities, as well as hypertension and a heart disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding them due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.