Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension with mild renal insufficiency has been granted a disability rating of 30 percent, effective February 9, 2007. The decision also found that the Veteran does not have chronic kidney disease (CKD) but is at least in equipoise as to having mildly decreased kidney function.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for respiratory disability, cardiac disability, and hypertension as secondary to service-connected Graves' disease due to insufficient opinions regarding potential undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, an intracranial bleed due to malignant hypertension, may be related to his active duty service. However, further medical opinion is needed to determine if this relationship exists.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection, and his left shoulder disability, OSA, and hypertension were denied. The claims for residuals of H. pylori infection and duodenal ulcer, personality disorder, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are all granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and determine appropriate effective dates and ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases for further medical opinions regarding service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), and a colon disability including diverticulitis and colon diverticulosis. The issues are related to secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cardiovascular and respiratory disabilities, attributing them to exposure to burn pits during service in Southwest Asia. The case requires additional medical examination and records.

The claim for service connection for hypertension, which was previously denied due to lack of evidence in service records and the opinion that it is not related to diabetes, has been reopened. The new study supports a positive association between hypertension and exposure to herbicides, placing the evidence in equipoise. Therefore, service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to her hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of obesity, and therefore, his claim for service connection is denied. The diabetes mellitus, Sjorgen's syndrome, erectile dysfunction, gallstones, GERD, diverticulitis, thyroid disease, diastasis of muscle, BPH, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and bilateral eye disabilities are all remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional research is required to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea. If verified, the Veteran must be afforded a VA examination to determine if his BPH and hypertension are etiologically related to active service, including herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the rating for hypertension and PTSD, as well as the effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to benefits for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMII), and gout. The Veteran's claims are also granted for increased ratings.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for the issues of bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute respiratory failure, an acute intracerebral hemorrhage, and malignant hypertension. The service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not contribute to his death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is not considered to have contributed to his cause of death, which was atherosclerotic hypertensive cardiovascular disease and hypertension. The Board found that the medical evidence does not support the claim that the depression worsened or caused the heart condition.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 12, 2016 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMP) based on aid and attendance due to the appellant's disability level being established by her September 2016 claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lung cancer was caused by exposure to harmful chemicals during service, and if his service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral ear disability other than tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service or connection to service.