Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and the need for additional medical opinions on service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for hypertension and left wrist disability. Service connection is granted for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, lower right back scar, lupus, left elbow tendonitis, right elbow tendonitis, spine condition, and neck condition are all denied. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran's service connection claim for lupus requires further investigation as private treatment records need to be obtained.

The Veteran's hypertension was denied service connection as it did not have its onset during or within one year of service discharge and is not related to service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection for the prostate condition (diagnosed as benign prostatic hypertrophy/hyperplasia, BPH) is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking the condition to in-service treatment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder other than hypertension, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for diabetes type II (diabetes), kidney disease with hypertension, and metabolic syndrome as they are already granted in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left kidney nephrectomy, hypertension (to include as secondary to left kidney nephrectomy), an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include adjustment disorder, depression, and anxiety) as secondary to left kidney nephrectomy, and erectile dysfunction have all been denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for cause of death due to new and material evidence. The appeal is granted to this extent only, with the case being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to procedural errors and the need for additional development, including toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable at any point during the period on appeal.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension, effective from August 16, 2017. The criteria for a higher rating have not been met as the Veteran's diastolic pressure readings have not consistently been predominantly 110 or more.

The Board granted service connection for a cardiac disability and hypertension, both presumed due to herbicide exposure. Service connection was denied for colon cancer, lung disability, spinal cancer tumor, stroke residuals, kidney disability, sleep apnea, deep vein thrombosis of the left lower extremity, neuropathy, and left leg disability (including cellulitis).

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and pes planus, and has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's fatigue disability is service connected as secondary to his service-connected beta thalassemia. However, hypertension remains a remanded issue due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a cardiovascular injury or disease during service and no continuous symptoms since separation. The current hypertension is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD and anxiety disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral artery disease, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, amputation below the right knee, and amputation below the left knee as secondary to service-connected diabetes. The initial disability rating for diabetes remains at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed to decide the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, headaches, left side issues, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder with sleep issues have been denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are not established as there is no indication he filed a claim prior to June 6, 2017.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus, Type II are granted as presumptively related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further evaluation.