Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there were no instances of diastolic pressure of predominantly 130 or more during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral eye disability, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, right ankle disability, prostate cancer residuals, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), and cholecystectomy residuals due to further development being necessary. The AOJ is instructed to obtain SSA records, prepare an ILER, schedule a TERA examination if appropriate, and provide VA examinations and medical opinions as needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions and incomplete private treatment records. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed again with new evidence provided.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and skin cancer due to a lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC) being issued by the AOJ.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed bilateral lung condition, migraine headaches, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder as there was no evidence of these conditions during his military service or a direct relationship to service. The back condition claim is granted.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including a right wrist disability, left wrist disability, neck disability, and right ankle disability. The decision also denied an earlier effective date for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and cardiac disabilities, including hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, due to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and stomach condition are remanded for additional medical opinions to determine their etiology.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded because no VA examiner has provided a nexus opinion on its presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. The Veteran's total potential toxic exposure throughout his military service must also be considered.,The Veteran's right and left ankle conditions are remanded for additional medical opinions to determine their etiology, specifically considering his in-service injuries and repetitive jumping with a 100-pound backpack on his back.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is remanded for an additional medical opinion to determine its etiology, specifically considering his in-service right ankle sprain.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to allegations of worsening symptoms since previous examinations.

The Board found that withholding VA compensation benefits to recoup separation pay in the amount of $13,958.15 was proper and denied the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to new evidence confirming exposure to toxic substances during his military service. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if the hypertension is related to this exposure.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to military service, and the character of his discharge from his second period of service is not a bar to VA benefits.,Service connection for heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and scars are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has found that further development is required before adjudication of the service connection claims can proceed. The Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) medical records and VA treatment records from Monroeville, VA Outpatient Clinic need to be obtained.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and granted it, based on new evidence provided by the Veteran's private physician.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for major depressive disorder was granted, and he is now entitled to a disability rating. The effective date for this grant is not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no current diagnosis of hypertension during or prior to the pendency of his claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and hypertension due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, particularly in relation to service-connected sinusitis and allergic rhinitis as well as exposure to toxic substances during service.

The Board has found that a new VA examination is needed for the Veteran's lichen planus, and remands his claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, migraines, and seizures as secondary to his service-connected lichen planus. The Veteran was not provided with adequate examinations or opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been granted service connection. The bilateral retinopathy is secondary to the hypertension, chronic kidney disease with end stage renal disease is secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, and dermatitis and eczema are presumed due to service.,Left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or functional impairment.