Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied claims for lumbosacral strain (low back disability) and right knee joint osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to clarify the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA), inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), and 'full-time duty' under the provisions of 32 U.S.C. § ¶ 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505 during his service. The Board also notes that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's skin condition, as well as opinions regarding the relationship between his neck condition and right shoulder condition with his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's pulmonary hypertension is granted as secondary to her pulmonary embolism residuals, including deep vein thrombosis with post-thrombotic syndrome and chronic venous insufficiency of the left lower extremity. The Veteran's right leg disorders are also found to be related to her left leg DVT.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with hypertension is rated at 20 percent and his moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and/or special home adaptation is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion on whether his service-connected disabilities are causing significant mobility issues, including right foot drop and difficulty walking.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The low back disorder is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, iron deficiency anemia, bilateral hearing loss disability, and endometrial polyp disability due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for updated medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea, as they are not related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected back condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and determining whether VA's duty to assist was satisfied. The issues of service connection for TBI, stroke, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye chalazion and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being remanded for further examination and rating due to the amount of time since his last examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and needs additional development, including obtaining specific dates of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA for the decedent's National Guard service. The VA also needs to obtain another medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the decedent's cause of death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a thyroid disability, headache disability, and high blood pressure due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, arthritis of the left shoulder, arthritis of the back, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, kidney condition, bladder condition, testicle condition, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The evidence received since the June 2014 rating decision is not new and material.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and hypertension have been granted. Service connection is denied for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been granted, and a 100% disability rating is assigned effective from May 3, 2018. Claims for other conditions remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including kidney disorder, migraine headaches, depression, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (low back pain), have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection has been granted for migraine headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnosis and military service.