Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of kidney cancer and hypertension due to herbicide exposure should be remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted service connection based on a finding of chronic manifestations during active duty and National Guard service.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is pending as the evidence does not clearly establish that it preexisted service or was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be reviewed by the Board after scheduling another hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and related complications are denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or any other herbicide. The Veteran was not diagnosed with hypertension until decades after service, and no medical professional has associated the diagnosis with his military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to herbicide exposure. The Board is unable to determine whether the Veteran's daily activities at U-Tapao Airfield brought him near the air base perimeter such that in-service herbicide exposure should be conceded.

The Veteran is entitled to an increased level of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including renal insufficiency with nephrotic syndrome, left eye blindness, right below the knee amputation, anatomical loss of left foot status post above-the-knee amputation and loss of use of right hand, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left upper extremity polyneuropathy (non-dominant), hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service. The Board also found that there is no legal basis for awarding a TDIU due to the absence of a service-connected back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities did not begin in service or until many years after service, and are not linked to any established in-service injury, disease, or event. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if hypertension is caused by or aggravated by service-connected disabilities, and for an effective date determination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to determine if hypertension is caused by or permanently aggravated by herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim remains pending and will be readjudicated after the completion of this development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and verification of exposure to pesticides during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for epilepsy, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. The case is being remanded to allow for further development of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension and erectile dysfunction are not related to his active service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her service connection claims, including obtaining missing service treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between her current conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inaccurate factual premise in a previous VA examination opinion, and the Veteran's denial of a history of tobacco use. The claim is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's non-service-connected disability pension benefits were reduced retroactively, resulting in an overpayment of $1,374. The Pension Management Center (PMC) is requesting repayment and has sent the Veteran a notice of this overpayment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disorders, claimed as knee strains, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim for gouty arthritis causing joint pain involving hands/fingers, elbows, hips, ankle, and feet is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and factual discrepancies in the record.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service. The claims for diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound due to service-connected disabilities is remanded for further development.