Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for restless leg syndrome, hypertension, a sleep disorder (insomnia and/or sleep apnea), and an acquired psychiatric condition due to potential exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Veteran's statements regarding his in-service experiences are considered.

The Veteran's claim for higher special monthly compensation (SMC) is denied because the evidence does not show he has any other disabilities or symptoms that would warrant a higher level of SMC.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension, to include as due to herbicides and/or as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder or diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for hypertension, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus with paresthesia, hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been reopened. The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during service and remanded his claims for these conditions due to insufficient evidence of a connection between his current conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, as they are related to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The case will be reviewed again with a focus on establishing secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the effective date for DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death should be November 1, 2013, as this is the earliest allowable effective date based on the relevant law and regulation pertaining to DIC claims. The appellant’s October 2013 claim was interpreted by the AOJ as including a claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting VA opinions regarding whether the Veteran's heart disorder is related to his service-connected PTSD or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The case will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the heart disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board found that his combined service-connected disability rating is 30 percent, which does not meet the threshold requirements for a TDIU. The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to non-service connected disabilities such as back and hip issues.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to chronic kidney disease with hypertension and migraine headaches. The case is now before the Board again due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The hypertension claim is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding its relationship to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral eye disorders, hypertension, and a genitourinary disorder has been dismissed. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for recurrent bilateral cerumen impaction, vitamin D deficiency, left and right foot ingrown toenails, boutonniere deformity of the right 5th digit, allergic rhinitis, external hemorrhoids, hypertension, right knee instability, left knee instability, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis have been granted. The Veteran's service connection claims for initial compensable rating for hypertension, initial 20 percent rating for right knee instability prior to September 21, 2020, initial 30 percent rating for right knee instability from September 21, 2020, initial 20 percent rating for left knee instability prior to September 21, 2020, and initial 30 percent rating for left knee instability from September 21, 2020 have been granted. The Veteran's service connection claims for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee osteoarthritis have not been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension manifested during active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, and erectile dysfunction. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a right shoulder disability. The claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, hypertension, and heart disorder due to additional development of the record being necessary.

The Board denied service connection for heart attack, lower back disorder, right hip disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The appellant did not have a current disability of these conditions at the time of his claim.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection as they are moot due to his death.