Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has reopened several previously denied claims but has not granted service connection for any of the conditions. The decision is mixed, with some issues being remanded and others having new evidence received that does not meet the criteria for reopening.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and right foot disability were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,Memory loss is considered a symptom of the service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety, so it does not warrant separate service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a kidney condition, and dizziness and fainting due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension first manifested during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, cervical spine disability, and gout are denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for gout is also denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of prostate cancer is remanded due to lack of information regarding flare-ups that may indicate incapacitating exacerbations.,The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for gout is remanded as the examiner did not address the frequency and impact of his reported flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for left clavicle fracture residuals and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis was reopened, with the former granted based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The claim for DM was also reopened, but denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, diabetes mellitus associated with herbicide exposure, and related secondary conditions are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The November 2018 private medical opinion supports a nexus between the Veteran’s hypertension and his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain missing VA treatment records, SSA records, and private treatment records. A VA examination is also needed to determine the nature and etiology of GERD, as well as an addendum opinion regarding his claimed bilateral knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case to get a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicides. The most recent update from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) places hypertension in the 'sufficient' category, indicating there is enough evidence to conclude that there is a positive association between hypertension and herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest within a year of the Veteran's separation from active service and was not caused by or aggravated by his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is related to service and granted.,The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that hypertension began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, so it was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and incomplete addendum opinions.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, Sleep Apnea, HTN, DM, TBI, and Bilateral Neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee bursitis and remanded the issues of service connection for right rotator cuff tear, plantar fasciitis, and hypertension. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are currently pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues of service connection for back condition, hyperlipidemia, acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, left lower extremity PAD, and right lower extremity PAD remain on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a heart disability (to include ischemic heart disease), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence.,The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for any of these conditions as there is no credible evidence that they began during active duty or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of a VA opinion on its relationship to service, specifically his presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The examiner must also assess whether his hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected ischemic heart disease.