Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a heart disability, and various joint and foot disorders. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing onset in service or continuity of symptomatology.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have current disabilities related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for a skin condition (presumed warts) is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a direct basis from the date of his claim. The Board has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding other conditions, including left leg pain, total body jitters due to too much sugar, right-hand and arm shakiness, right leg pain, and left-hand and arm.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, as secondary to a service-connected condition. The Veteran's weight loss in his May 2019 sleep study is noted as potentially impacting the development of his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service connection claims for GERD and gastritis are denied as they do not meet the criteria for direct or presumptive service connection. However, his PTSD claim is granted based on personal assaults / a pattern of harassment during active duty.,PTSD service connection is granted due to in-service personal assaults / a pattern of harassment. Major depressive disorder with associated anxiety, insomnia, and memory loss are also granted as they can be linked to the Veteran's period of active service.,The Veteran's bowel disturbance with abdominal distress (an intestinal condition) qualifies as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. � 3.317 due to his Persian Gulf service. His type II diabetes mellitus is also granted as a qualifying chronic disability resulting from undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multi-symptom illness.,Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) with angina (chest pain) and hypertension are both granted secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) with angina (chest pain).,PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol abuse, and polysubstance abuse disorders are all granted as secondary to his now service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted a 20 percent rating based on orthopedic manifestations. His tension headaches have been granted the maximum 50 percent rating from August 26, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of timely appeal for hypertension, and is now considering mesenteric vasculitis. The examiner needs to determine if the Veteran's mesenteric vasculitis began during ACDUTRA in August 2002.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective February 27, 2014. A TDIU due to service-connected PTSD is also granted.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is caused by his service-connected low back disability, and the claim for service connection is granted. The claims for higher ratings of right hip osteoarthritis, hypertension, and GERD are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to herbicide exposure and asbestos exposure. The Veteran's military records show he served within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam, presuming his exposure to herbicides. However, the AOJ did not obtain an examination to determine if his hypertension is related to herbicide exposure or asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and GERD due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The issues of service connection are being reviewed again, and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete VA examinations and opinions. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed for potential service connection, while his chronic kidney disease secondary to right shoulder disability is also under review.

Your claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted, but the issue is now moot as it was fully resolved in a January 2023 rating decision.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, hypertension, and bilateral knee disability as these issues have been fully granted with effective dates.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance, as he is able to perform self-care activities.

Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for right hand strain flexors is granted. The Veteran's hypertension issue has been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD and Sleep Apnea due to new evidence received. The remaining issues are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back arthritic disorder and gastrointestinal disorder, both on a presumptive basis due to exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. Service connection for hypertension was withdrawn during a hearing.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and migraine headaches are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.,Service connection for bilateral shoulder condition, lower back condition, and right foot condition is also denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions and failure to comply with VA's duty to assist. The Veteran's OSA is being reviewed again for possible secondary service connection.