Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for hypertension, sternum scar, coronary artery disease, chronic anemia, respiratory disorder, and kidney disease. The Veteran's VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records are to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to incomplete development of records, failure to attend scheduled examinations, and need for additional medical opinions. The appeals are now pending again.

The Veteran's IBS is granted as a presumptive service connection due to a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI). The RO will need to provide an examination and obtain an opinion regarding the bilateral pes planus, diabetes mellitus, eye disability, and right ankle condition.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus, diabetes mellitus, any eye disability, and right ankle condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence. Additional examinations are needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

Service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, and tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for hypertension, headache disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder has not been established.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus type 2, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer, and hypertension due to herbicide exposure. The issues of service connection for myositis (muscular myopathy), erectile dysfunction, and hypertension on a basis other than as pursuant to the PACT Act are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for bilateral hearing loss and carpal tunnel syndrome. The remaining issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability (depression), erectile dysfunction, and hypertension have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II, are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection for phlebitis is also denied as there is no direct or secondary evidence linking it to the service-connected hypertension or diabetes mellitus, type II.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a breathing condition is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received, allowing the reopening of the claim. However, the rating for GERD remains remanded due to possible worsening, and other claims are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and further development is needed. The Veteran's vision, right ankle, left ankle, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are all under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, including whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities and toxic exposure risk activities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type I, as well as his TDIU claim. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, pes planus of the left foot, pes planus of the right foot, chronic bronchitis, and low back disability. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as secondary to PTSD. The claims for back and neck disabilities, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and tinnitus are remanded.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's headaches, neck disorder, back disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), anxiety, insomnia, sleep disturbances, and depression are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to corroborate the Veteran's assertions of herbicide exposure during his service in Korea.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of high blood pressure and Bell's Palsy due to the withdrawal by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension remain on appeal. The Board has previously remanded these issues, and the VA has conducted further examinations to address the Veteran's current disability levels.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent prior to July 1, 2020, and 50 percent from that date onwards. For hypertension, he is currently rated at 10 percent prior to July 5, 2020, and no higher rating has been assigned since then.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected hypertension, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure. The claims for chloracne, bilateral hearing loss disability, and disabilities of both shoulders are remanded as new evidence has been received but does not meet the materiality requirement to reopen.

The Board has granted restoration of the Veteran's 100% disability rating for diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease with hypertension, effective November 1, 2020. The reduction in rating was improper due to failure to provide detailed reasons for the proposed reduction under 38 C.F.R. § 3.105(e). Additionally, the Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for service-connected diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease with hypertension.