Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, both presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to herbicide agent exposure. The issues of hypertension, osteoporosis, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hip disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound, thus SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for hypertension is granted at 10 percent, effective June 11, 2018. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an increased rating and service connection for complications of hypertension.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder disability, lymphatic cancer of the neck, oropharyngeal or tonsil cancer, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is not related to military service, his cancers are more likely due to GERD and alcohol use rather than exposure in service, and there was no evidence of hypertension prior to death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his active duty service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the claims must be returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration, including assigning separate disability evaluations for each service-connected condition and ensuring proper application of rating criteria. The AOJ is also required to arrange for a VA examination to assess the severity and manifestations produced by each disorder.

The Board has restored the Veteran's ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and hypertension to their previous levels, finding that the reductions were improper.,Both the reduction in rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine from 40% to 10%, and the reduction in rating for hypertension from 20% to 10%, are being restored.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Muenchiler, Germany.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his reports of in-service symptoms and treatment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is at least a reasonable doubt as to whether the condition manifested during periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's service connection claims for sarcoidosis, sleep apnea, hypertension, heart disorder, chronic laryngitis, and headaches have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 50 percent for migraines is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50 percent disability rating. Other issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including depression and other conditions. The effective date of this decision is August 28, 2023.

Service connection for hypertension and a heart condition (atrial fibrillation and LVH) is granted on a direct basis. Service connection for a respiratory disorder (COPD and pulmonary embolism) is denied.,The Veteran's hypertension was found to be due to his exposure to an herbicide in-service, while the denial of service connection for COPD and pulmonary embolism is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart disability, as well as her claim for TDIU. The VA is required to obtain additional medical opinions to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his heart conditions, which led to his death. The VA is instructed to obtain updated treatment records and provide a medical opinion on this issue.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiovascular/vascular disorder, including dissection of the common iliac artery and hypertension, as well as metabolic syndrome. The Veteran opted into the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (AMA) review system prior to recertification of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, sleep disorder (to include as due to service-connected deviated nasal septum and non-allergic rhinitis), and hypertension.,There is no evidence of any chronic knee condition during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. The remaining claims of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, right ankle disability, a higher rating for GERD with hiatal hernia, pancreatitis, and pancreatic pseudocysts, and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.