Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and gout, finding no evidence of direct causation or exposure to herbicide agents during active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea but has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for hypertension and a rating in excess of 10 percent for a lumbar spine disability are denied due to failure to report for VA examinations. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded as the record requires an opinion on whether it is related to service.

The Board has determined that the appeals for service connection for bilateral ankle disability, vision disability, hearing loss, and initial compensable rating for hypertension are timely. The claims will be remanded to further adjudicate these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's long history of elevated blood pressure since service constitutes a continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence indicating a current cardiovascular disability. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran currently has a cardiovascular disability, and if so, its onset during service or causation by service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes during his active service or within one year after separation. The hypertension and erectile dysfunction claims are remanded to obtain medical records and provide the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Veteran's unauthorized non-VA medical expenses incurred at UAMC on July 3, 2018 were reimbursed because the treatment was for an adjudicated service-connected disability and the services were for emergency treatment of a condition that would have been hazardous to life or health if delayed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for idiopathic microscopic hematuria, hypertension, left elbow condition, bilateral conjunctivitis of the eyes, and bilateral Achilles tendonitis have been dismissed. The appeal for service connection for PFB has been granted. The appeals for service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral shin splints, bilateral foot disability (including pes planus and plantar fasciitis), and allergies (including allergic rhinitis) are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, service connection for pancreatitis and gall bladder disability, and TDIU due to conflicting medical evidence and need for additional opinions.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection due to environmental exposures during his Southwest Asia service. The issues include muscle and joint pain, hives, abnormal weight loss, nausea and constipation, sleep disturbances, neurological or neuropsychological disorder, and hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD and nocturnal bruxism were granted service connection. The Veteran's high blood pressure claim is remanded for further development.,Service connection was established for PTSD and nocturnal bruxism, but the validity of the hypertension claim remains pending.

Service connection for hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act. Service connection for tinnitus and earlier effective date for CAD are denied.

The Board denied service connection for radicular symptoms of the upper extremities, hypertension (claimed as blood clot condition and varicocele), and erectile dysfunction due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.,A disability rating in excess of 20 percent was also denied for right lower extremity neuropathy and left lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, hypertension, and a chronic gastrointestinal disorder due to potential secondary service connection. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board denied the claim for DIC benefits due to kidney cancer and other disabilities, finding that there was no service connection or exposure to herbicide agents/radiation during military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD, hernia, hypertension, anemia, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's increased evaluation for hypertension claim is denied.,Her request for an evaluation higher than 30 percent for hypothyroidism is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further development, including obtaining STRs, stressor development, and VA examinations.