Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The claims for service connection for hypertension, right flat foot, left flat foot, lower back disorder, and bilateral knee disorders have been reopened. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has also been reopened.,However, the claims for service connection for headaches, pseudofolliculitis barbae (also claimed as dermatology), residuals of chicken pox, and pneumonia remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetic nephropathy prior to February 22, 2018 was denied. The effective date for the grant of a separate 30 percent rating for diabetic nephropathy from April 27, 2015 is granted.,Total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been granted since July 10, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a direct basis due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The Veteran's hypertension was related to his military service and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report supports this finding.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding secondary service connection for sleep apnea, specifically addressing causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since September 27, 2014. The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent since June 17, 2019. The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and systemic arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral hernias have been dismissed. The previously denied claims of service connection for DJD of the thoracic/lumbar spine, bilateral knees, prostatitis, and GERD have been reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for DJD of the thoracic/lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, and right knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the issues of rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability, service connection for multiple sclerosis, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and service connection for hypertension are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to non-compliance with a previous remand. A TERA examination is required for GERD, skin rash, and hypertension as they may be related to toxic exposure risk activities during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evidence review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, high blood pressure, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (previously rated as thoracic scoliosis) was denied. The Veteran received a 10 percent rating for his high blood pressure effective October 24, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities (including as secondary to service-connected hypertension), residuals of strokes (secondary to service-connected hypertension), bilateral glaucoma (secondary to service-connected hypertension), and low back disorder (secondary to service-connected left knee disability).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for esophageal conditions and hypertension, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, residuals of bladder cancer, and kidney condition are granted. Service connection is established based on herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease, effective from October 1, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Board also remanded cases regarding chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), migraine headaches, sinusitis, and rhinitis due to OSA.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development and consideration, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an opinion regarding whether his pulmonary hypertension and sleep apnea are proximately due or aggravated by service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and a skin condition other than dermatitis due to insufficient examination opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently under review.

The Veteran's hearing loss, pinguecula (eyes burning), sleep apnea, hypertension, left shoulder disability, allergies, shin splints, knee pain, and neck disability are all remanded for further examination and opinion. The PACT Act is not applicable to these claims.