Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for both hypertension and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as secondary to hypertension. The decision found that the evidence did not support a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeals for COPD, bilateral shoulder conditions, Peyronie's disease, skin cancer, right heel disability, peripheral artery disease of the bilateral lower extremities, entitlement to a compensable rating for residuals of a rib fracture, and earlier effective date prior to February 28, 2013 for the award of service connection for a rib fracture residual were dismissed. The Veteran's esophageal stricture was granted with a 50% disability rating. Service connection for coronary artery disease, osteoarthritis of the right wrist, and bilateral knees was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral onychomycosis and remanded the issues of increased ratings for hypertension and hypothyroidism, as well as service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, heart disability, and pulmonary hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and kidney disabilities. The claims are remanded due to the need for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for COPD/residuals of surgery for lung cancer is denied. The case is remanded for further action on the service connection claim for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy have been granted. The claim for right hand arthritis is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and melanoma, attributing these conditions to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his military service.

Your claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted, and the issue is now moot as it was already resolved by a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), cirrhosis of the liver, and hypertension has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and heart disability (including ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease with bypass surgery) are granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand. Bilateral hearing loss, aortic valve stenosis, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, palpitations, murmur, hypertension, actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma are presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran had high blood pressure during and since service. The decision is based on a finding of continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for GERD, hypertension, right hip disorder, neck disability, and elbow disability due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and hypothyroidism due to insufficient VA etiology opinions in the September 2020 decision. The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is alleged to have aggravated these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea and hypertension for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the service connection for heart disabilities, including coronary artery disease, cardiomegaly, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, congestive heart failure, and hypervolemia. The appellant must provide additional evidence or have their file reviewed by an independent medical expert.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new medical evidence being submitted. The AOJ will review this evidence and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claims of increased rating and earlier effective date for tinnitus have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for hyperlipidemia, kidney disability, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, gout, eye disability (cataracts), and hypertension are all denied.

The Veteran's hypertension, which requires continuous medication, has been predominantly less than 100 in diastolic pressure and less than 160 in systolic pressure. The Board finds that the weight of evidence is against a compensable rating for hypertension.