Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a left wrist condition and hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to a failure to obtain relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and he meets the criteria for service connection under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's hypertension, associated with herbicide exposure, has not met the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 7101 due to blood pressure readings never being predominantly 100 or more in diastolic or 160 or more in systolic.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left flank scar and left ear hearing loss, as well as service connection for hypertension. The decision found that there was no current diagnosis of hypertension and that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of cervical spine surgery was denied as the surgery did not cause an additional disability, and there is no evidence that it caused his current condition.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted due to his service-connected major depressive disorder which precludes him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's high cholesterol is not considered a compensable disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of cervical spine degenerative disc disease or neck pain during service, and the current condition is not related to any in-service injury. The claim for this condition is denied.,Hypertension was not shown within one year after separation from service, nor is there a link between it and service. Therefore, the Veteran's hypertension claim is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, right shoulder condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) due to pre-decisional Duty-to-Assist errors.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluation of right knee chondromalacia was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to March 2018. The appeals for left knee condition, hypertension, lower back with bulging disc (now claimed as low back condition), sleep apnea, and right hip trochanteric bursitis, mild osteoarthritis were all denied.

The Board has determined that the claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and kidney condition must be remanded due to inadequate reasons and bases provided by the AOJ in their September 2022 and February 2023 decisions. The AOJ did not adequately address whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his herbicide exposure during service or if they are secondary to any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service, granted service connection.,Service connection for right shoulder DJD and strain, left shoulder bicipital and rotator cuff tendonitis and arthritis, left finger arthritis, hyperlipidemia, right foot pain and onychomycosis, and left foot pain and onychomycosis is denied. The claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's service connection claim for these conditions is granted due to the PACT Act.

The Veteran's hypertension, heart disorder, urinary tract disorder, low back disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are presumed to be related to his service due to herbicide exposure. However, the claims for these conditions prior to August 10, 2022, and other than under the provisions of the PACT Act, are remanded as new evidence is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right knee, left knee, and hypertension conditions due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board is remanding several issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, right foot and toe fungus, and left hip disability. The decision also mentions the PACT Act's implications.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for pneumonia, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to exposure to mustard gas during basic training. The Veteran's medical records indicate current disabilities of essential hypertension, COPD, congestive heart failure, and a history of pneumonia during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches, arthritis of the shoulders, knees, hips, and back have all been denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service and the gap between discharge and diagnosis is too large to establish continuity.,Tinnitus is granted as it is related to military noise exposure, despite the examiner's opinion that his MOS had a low probability for hazardous noise exposure.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if it is service-connected.,The right wrist condition is remanded due to lack of in-service diagnosis and treatment, despite the Veteran's reports of injury during service.,The respiratory condition is remanded as there was no diagnosed respiratory condition at the time of examination.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle disability, left ankle disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. The Board found no current disabilities for the right or left ankles, hearing loss, or tinnitus, and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any of these conditions and service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act presumption of service connection. High cholesterol, tremors, a skin disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further examination and opinion. The Veteran's nightmares/fear of falling claim remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Multiple Myeloma, Chronic Renal Disease, and Hypertension. The conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active-duty service.