Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension may be service-connected as secondary to his psychiatric disability and/or diabetes, but an additional examination is needed to determine if there was any aggravation of the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and MDD with additional conditions like atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic lumbosacral strain, left elbow epicondylitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left shoulder tendonitis, bilateral tinnitus, and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 19, 2015. The Veteran is now eligible for a TDIU based on his MDD with PTSD alone, which meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals as he withdrew all his pending appeals through his authorized representative.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for pulmonary hypertension, to include as due to asbestos exposure, finding that there is not enough evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for MDD, alcohol use disorder, and OSA as secondary to a psychiatric disability are denied.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for hypertension, considering whether it is related to PTSD medication or due to herbicide exposure. The examiner will need to provide an addendum opinion regarding the role of alcohol dependence in causing or aggravating the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has found that further etiological development is required for both the renal condition and hypertension, as the previous opinions were inadequate. The case is being remanded to obtain new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and evaluation, specifically regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The issues include determining if a compensable rating is warranted for each of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and cerebrovascular accident due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The hypertension claim is also being reviewed as new evidence may have been submitted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be service-connected.,The Veteran's allergies, skin disorder (dermatitis and seborrheic keratosis), hypertension, adult-onset diabetes, digestive disorder, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are not found to be service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for kidney disorder, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart disorder due to unresolved questions regarding his service connection.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on all listed conditions due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and residuals of a stroke, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his military service, including his presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of service connection for sarcoidosis, a lung disability separate from sarcoidosis, heart disorders, and kidney disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his service or herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is denied as it is not related to his military service, including herbicide exposure. The VA examiner found that the condition is more likely caused by his cervical spine disability and degenerative changes.,The Veteran's bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is also denied for the same reasons as above.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease and hypertension are related to his active service. However, due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's hypertension was not rated higher than noncompensable prior to January 10, 2013 and a staged rating of at least 10 percent is warranted after that date.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and arthritis/polymyositis due to additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on the nature and etiology of these conditions.