Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluation of right knee chondromalacia was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to March 2018. The appeals for left knee condition, hypertension, lower back with bulging disc (now claimed as low back condition), sleep apnea, and right hip trochanteric bursitis, mild osteoarthritis were all denied.

The Board has determined that the claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and kidney condition must be remanded due to inadequate reasons and bases provided by the AOJ in their September 2022 and February 2023 decisions. The AOJ did not adequately address whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his herbicide exposure during service or if they are secondary to any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service, granted service connection.,Service connection for right shoulder DJD and strain, left shoulder bicipital and rotator cuff tendonitis and arthritis, left finger arthritis, hyperlipidemia, right foot pain and onychomycosis, and left foot pain and onychomycosis is denied. The claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's service connection claim for these conditions is granted due to the PACT Act.

The Veteran's hypertension, heart disorder, urinary tract disorder, low back disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are presumed to be related to his service due to herbicide exposure. However, the claims for these conditions prior to August 10, 2022, and other than under the provisions of the PACT Act, are remanded as new evidence is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right knee, left knee, and hypertension conditions due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board is remanding several issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, right foot and toe fungus, and left hip disability. The decision also mentions the PACT Act's implications.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for pneumonia, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to exposure to mustard gas during basic training. The Veteran's medical records indicate current disabilities of essential hypertension, COPD, congestive heart failure, and a history of pneumonia during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches, arthritis of the shoulders, knees, hips, and back have all been denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service and the gap between discharge and diagnosis is too large to establish continuity.,Tinnitus is granted as it is related to military noise exposure, despite the examiner's opinion that his MOS had a low probability for hazardous noise exposure.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if it is service-connected.,The right wrist condition is remanded due to lack of in-service diagnosis and treatment, despite the Veteran's reports of injury during service.,The respiratory condition is remanded as there was no diagnosed respiratory condition at the time of examination.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle disability, left ankle disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. The Board found no current disabilities for the right or left ankles, hearing loss, or tinnitus, and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any of these conditions and service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act presumption of service connection. High cholesterol, tremors, a skin disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further examination and opinion. The Veteran's nightmares/fear of falling claim remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Multiple Myeloma, Chronic Renal Disease, and Hypertension. The conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Veteran's hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder), asthma, and unspecified heart disorder are all granted as they are presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, hypertension, left varicocele, and eye disability, have prevented him from securing or maintaining gainful employment prior to March 12, 2020.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to a rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a compensable rating for hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's asthma, non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, and hypertension are granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to burn pits during his service in Southwest Asia.

Service connection for hypertension is granted, with the presumption of herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act. The issue of service connection on a direct basis or secondary to an already-service-connected condition remains remanded.

The Veteran's cervical strain, right knee Osgood-Schlatter disease, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), and hypertension have been granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's right knee Osgood-Schlatter disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's TBI is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error where the VA examiner did not address whether his bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, unspecified neurocognitive disorder, cold intolerance and fatigue due to hyperthyroidism, Grave's disease, transient memory loss, nocturnal leg cramps, right upper extremity tingling and numbness, dizziness are related to his TBI. A retrospective opinion is needed.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to herbicide exposure, specifically Agent Orange, due to his service in the Republic of Vietnam.