Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, Type II due to exposure at Camp LeJeune. The VA is required to secure addendum opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions in light of the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including onychomycosis, hypertension, bleeding ulcers, amblyopia (left eye injury), diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and heart disorder. The remand includes obtaining VA treatment records from VistA Imaging, preparing a TERA memorandum for Camp Lejeune service, and obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric, lower back, CAD, hypertension, right leg, and left leg conditions due to lack of evidence of a current disability or a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and hypertension. The remand includes obtaining updated medical opinions to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hypertension was denied. The claim for increased ratings for lumbar strain with DDD and IVDS prior to May 18, 2019, and from March 23, 2021, is granted at 40 percent. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (to include depression and major affective disorder) was reopened and granted.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings for various diabetic conditions, including neuropathies and retinopathy. The Veteran withdrew his appeals before the decision was finalized.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and supraventricular arrhythmia due to a lack of readjudication in the November 2023 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of epididymitis and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension due to insufficient opinions regarding direct and secondary service connection. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed again with a request for an addendum opinion from a VA clinician.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of service connection for vision impairment and has remanded the remaining issues: atrial fibrillation, hypertension, sleep apnea, headache disorder, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right and left tennis elbow, left shoulder arthritis, left hand neuropathy, right leg neuropathy, and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted. The PACT Act expanded the presumptive exposure for hypertension to include veterans who were exposed to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension as claimed by the Veteran. The claims were based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, hypertension, heart disease (including high cholesterol), gastroesophageal disorder, headache disorder, and respiratory disorder have been remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia have also been granted.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, including whether it preexisted his service in Kuwait and if so, whether it was aggravated by service or due to environmental exposure. The Board also seeks clarification on whether the Veteran's hypertension contributed to his death from hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches but has remanded the claim of hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on several service-connected conditions are remanded due to the need for new evaluations and assessments.

The Board has identified several issues on appeal, including claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow the AOJ to consider all evidence, including new VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and nephropathy with hypertension; bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves; bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy; and a lumbar spine disability have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU for the entire period of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for his right arm condition and HTN. The examiner will determine if the conditions are related to service, including an injury in June 2009, and whether HTN is secondary to DMII.