Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of hypertension, finding that it did not have onset during a period of active service and is not otherwise related to any incident of his first period of service. The condition clearly and unmistakably preexisted his second and third periods of active service, but there is no indication that it was aggravated beyond natural progression by either subsequent period of active duty.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure. The left knee, bilateral thumb condition, low back condition, and left foot condition are all remanded for further examination and opinion. Service connection for GERD is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new theories of entitlement and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's obesity, caused by his service-connected right knee and hip disabilities, may be a factor in causing his acid reflux, hypertension, and heart disabilities. His acquired psychiatric disability is also considered as a potential cause or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, amputation of the left leg, neuropathy of both hands and right leg, hypertension, vision problems, and tremors (claimed as seizures) secondary to diabetes mellitus type II due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while serving at U.S. military bases in Okinawa, Japan is also being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for respiratory, heart, and hypertension disabilities as secondary to service-connected conditions. The effective date for the PTSD rating remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and nephropathy are granted due to herbicide agent exposure in Guam. The PACT Act grants presumptive service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding whether hypertension and hypertensive heart disease are proximately due or aggravated by service-connected supraventricular arrythmia. The VA needs to obtain an addendum opinion from a different examiner.

The Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to and aggravated by his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.,The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease is proximately due to and aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.,The Veteran's left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease is proximately due to and aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, diabetes mellitus, left eye macular degeneration, right eye macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy are granted due to the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of each condition and was exposed to herbicides during his service on Guam.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be etiologically related to his conceded in-service herbicide exposure. The heart condition claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension, ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and Parkinson's disease are all granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,Special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection for dementia and hypertension, as well as for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The effective date for these benefits was set at January 12, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The TDIU claim is also referred back for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no direct evidence linking it to his military service and insufficient evidence supporting a secondary service connection due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete development of records and insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension, including as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress, was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking the hypertension to service or a service-connected disability. For the right foot pes planus with arthritis and tendonitis, the case was remanded due to unclear whether symptoms affect different functions of the feet.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for clarification of opinions regarding service connection for OSA as secondary to various service-connected disabilities, including diabetes.