Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has granted a second clothing allowance for calendar year 2016 for the use of topical creams used to treat service-connected burns on the right and left arms and hands, finding that the cocoa butter cream causes an increased rate of damage to outer garments compared to a back brace.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for post-concussive headaches, but dismissed the claims for tinnitus and scar on chest. The remaining issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with a previous remand directive regarding service connection for hypertension, including as due to herbicide exposure. Another remand is required.

The Veteran's hypertension appeal is dismissed. The claim for increased ratings of bilateral eye disability was denied, with the exception of a 40% rating granted as of July 6, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, respiratory disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, but the evidence does not support such a presumption.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and dizziness due to insufficient examination opinions. The Veteran's lay statements will be considered in addition to VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, sciatica of the right and left lower extremity, and osteoarthritis of the lower back secondary to service-connected conditions due to Agent Orange exposure. The issues are inextricably intertwined as they all relate to the Veteran's service-connected left knee condition.

The appeals regarding service connection for kidney disease, hypertension, entitlement to TDIU, and specially adapted housing have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has withdrawn the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, throat cancer, and lung cancer. The claim for new and material evidence to reopen service connection for depression is denied. Service connection for skin cancer is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity and upper extremity peripheral neuropathies, vascular diseases, and GERD due to incomplete records. The Veteran is also asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain his Social Security Administration records and any private medical records.

The Veteran's cause of death is denied as the Board found no evidence that his hypertension, stroke, or cardiorespiratory arrest were caused by service-connected conditions.

The Board has ordered the case back to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's hypothyroidism, temporal lobe epilepsy, and hypertension are aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The AOJ is also directed to schedule the Veteran for a VA eye examination in accordance with procedures for incarcerated veterans.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and skin disorders are related to his diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for hypertension and ED have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for metastatic renal cell cancer due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The hypertension issue is remanded as there is no opinion on its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for sinusitis is denied.,The appeal to reopen service connection for hypertension based on new and material evidence is granted.,The appeal to reopen service connection for arthritis based on new and material evidence is granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, left thumb disorder, bilateral eye disorder, right ankle disorder, hypertension, and nose disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of current diagnoses or a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to address a February 2012 letter from the Veteran's VA rheumatologist, which advised him to use etodolac sparingly as it can potentially affect his blood pressure. The Board also notes that the current record does not establish when the Veteran was first diagnosed with hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and cerebrovascular accident due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of in-service onset or chronicity.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for gout, an eye disorder (claimed as poor vision), bilateral hearing loss, hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and a pulmonary disorder (claimed as breathing problems due to hypertension) due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.