Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Service connection was granted for hypertension, with a presumption of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The appeals for service connection for colon cancer, heart disorder, hepatosplenomegaly, and peripheral vascular disease are remanded due to lack of VA examination or opinion.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU prior to August 10, 2022 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypocholesteremia, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, cataracts, and glaucoma. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but the specific nature of the issues remains unclear as they are still being evaluated on their merits.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records, particularly regarding service connection claims related to exposure to lead paint in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiac disability, including diagnosed hypertension (HTN), finding that there is no current evidence of a chronic heart condition or any link to service. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms are not considered probative.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Board did not provide a clear and specific error in their previous decision.

The Veteran's initial 20 percent rating for scar is granted, but her claim for a higher rating is dismissed.,Her right knee disability and lupus service connection claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.,Her hypertension service connection claim is also remanded.,Her bilateral hearing loss increased rating claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, sinusitis, and rhinitis are all granted. The claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, diabetes, OSA, a right hand disability, and a bilateral eye disability due to inadequate reasons and bases in prior decisions.

The Veteran's hypertension, right wrist disability, and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma are granted service connection due to the PACT Act presumption. The Veteran is also granted a compensable rating for anemia (iron deficiency).

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and CVA with left side weakness, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,For the alternative claim of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hypertension and CVA residuals, the Board has also granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for type 1 diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claims are inextricably intertwined as hypertension is claimed secondary to type 1 diabetes.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to herbicide agent exposure.,The Veteran's kidney disability and erectile dysfunction are granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus and hypertension.,The Veteran's colon cancer is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, nephropathy, bilateral cataracts, and hypertension associated with diabetes mellitus was denied. The current rating of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus is maintained as the criteria for a higher rating are not met. Separate compensable ratings for erectile dysfunction, nephropathy, bilateral cataracts, and hypertension were also not granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of various conditions including right knee, left knee, back, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy in bilateral extremities, hypertension, and heart condition due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus, hearing loss, tinnitus, a foot disorder, heart disorder, and hypertension has been granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a foot disorder, a heart disorder, and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.,For DM, the Board noted there was no in-service diagnosis or incident, and the condition was diagnosed many years after separation. For hypertension, the claim was denied as secondary to DM since DM itself is not service-connected. For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran's STRs showed normal hearing at entry and separation, and he did not report any significant noise exposure during service.,For tinnitus, the Board found no evidence of in-service onset or connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he was still employed at the time of his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss are remanded. The Veteran is also requested to provide evidence of toxic exposure risk activities in service, as the PACT Act requires a medical opinion on the likelihood of a nexus between his conditions and such exposures.