Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression, is denied. The Board finds no evidence of a diagnosed mental health disability during active or inactive service and thus cannot establish service connection. Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to the inadequacy of the March 2021 VA examination opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected spine, knee and hip disabilities. The decision is based on medical opinions that suggest obesity caused by these disabilities may have contributed to the development of hypertension.

The Veteran's cause of death, including hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II, are presumed to be related to his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The appeal regarding service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is dismissed. Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right shin splints, left shin splints, and hypertension. The claims for skin disability, headache disability, Type II diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right foot pes planus, and left foot pes planus are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran had hypertension at any point since October 2020, and whether it is related to service or service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran requires aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities alone.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of October 6, 2006 for the service connection of type II diabetes mellitus with hypertension and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes. The Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand is presumed related to his diabetes.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and his death. The Board requests a medical opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and congestive heart failure, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities through obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension, partial hemianopia, stroke, vascular issues of both lower extremities, and depression due to potential exposure to contaminated waters at Camp Lejeune. The VA must obtain medical opinions to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including a stomach condition, neck disability, lower back disability, bulging discs in the back, uterine fibroids, asthma (claimed as breathing problems), Graves' disease (thyroid disability), hypertension, and tachycardia. The Board found that there is no evidence of these conditions being related to service or toxic exposures.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to toxic exposures in service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bladder disability are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred during service and is related to his military duties, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, Parkinson's disease, left kidney cancer with residuals, coronary artery disease, and hypertension due to potential toxic exposure during service. The AOJ is instructed to properly address these issues by developing evidence regarding the Veteran's toxic exposures.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, vision in left eye, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or an in-service incurrence of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused by or due to his service-connected PTSD, but it may have been aggravated by his PTSD. The case is being remanded for further evaluation and clarification of this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, COPD, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, OSA, left and right below knee amputations, bilateral lower extremity scars, and CAD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's enlarged heart is directly related to service or secondary to his hypertension.

The Veteran's cardiac disability is caused by exposure to fuel in his military occupational specialty (MOS) in helicopter repair. The bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not caused by the Veteran's military noise exposure.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraines, and hypertension is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and an acquired psychiatric condition have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.