Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for low back injury, acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, cardiovascular disorder (other than hypertension), and erectile dysfunction were denied as the evidence did not establish a service connection.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not present in service or within a year of discharge, and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. The Board denied the claims for diabetes mellitus, parathyroid abnormality, kidney stones, elevated calcium levels, hypertension, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypersensitivity to light as they were not shown to be due to herbicide exposure or any other basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back condition and other conditions like sleep apnea, hypertension, and carpal tunnel syndrome, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, while hypertension is not due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus (DM), and ED was not caused or aggravated by DM.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the listed issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a low back condition related to service, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The issue of hypertension as secondary to PTSD was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as aggravated by service-connected PTSD and asthma, but denied service connection for hypertension and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain updated medical records and provide an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's PTSD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective May 10, 2012, based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his PTSD and musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is now considered service-connected.

The Veteran's portal hypertension is found to be secondary to his service-connected Hepatitis C disability with cirrhosis of the liver. The kidney disorder issue remains pending for further examination and opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, including renal cell carcinoma, dementia, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, hyperlipidemia, or atherosclerosis. The cause of death listed on his autopsy report was pneumonia due to Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

The Veteran's bilateral tender calluses are found to have started during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The cervical spine disorder, hypertension, and heart disorder claims are denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a nexus with service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Erectile Dysfunction and a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting service connection or an increased rating.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is rated at 50 percent effective May 23, 2017. His coronary artery disease with a history of myocardial infarction is currently rated at 100 percent due to his TDIU status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his peripheral neuropathy, COPD, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a comprehensive VA medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, respiratory disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, sinusitis, nerve condition, and headaches, all allegedly due to exposure to mustard gas, herbicide agents, and/or other chemicals and/or toxins during active duty. The Board has determined that further development is needed regarding the Veteran's claimed exposures.