Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for duodenal ulcer and hypertension has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran was granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act of 2022.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent, and he did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. He also did not qualify for TDIU prior to May 26, 2022, but his condition improved such that he now qualifies for TDIU from that date onwards.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected, but the Board finds that additional development is needed to address a possible direct causation basis for his condition.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, scars status post bladder cancer surgery, COPD, and hypertension. The issues of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, liver disease (to include hepatitis B), gastrointestinal disorder (to include IBS and/or Crohn's disease), low back disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, kidney disease, heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions must be remanded to obtain VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for further review due to insufficient reasons and bases provided in the September 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran's attorney argues that the SSOC did not provide adequate discussion of the relevant evidence, allowing the Veteran an opportunity to present arguments before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed, reopened, or remanded. The dismissal is for the previously denied claim of high cholesterol. Claims for bilateral foot frostbite and athlete's foot are now open to be decided on their merits. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type 2, both secondary to PTSD, remain unresolved.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for cataracts. The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding it was incurred during service due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and granting it under the PACT Act of 2022. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of mixed anxiety depressive disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection of coronary artery disease and hypertension are granted, but the VA finds new evidence does not meet materiality criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a stroke and blood pressure disorder, to include hypertension or hypotension due to additional development being needed. The issues are now considered together as they may be related.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as directly due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is granted a 70 percent initial evaluation, effective August 24, 2012.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no competent evidence showing an in-service event or disease and no evidence of a compensable degree of disability within one year after discharge.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the VA medical examination, specifically failing to address whether obesity caused or aggravated the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver with hepatic encephalopathy, portal hypertension and esophageal varices is remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination prior to the issuance of the rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension have not been met.

The Veteran's high blood pressure is rated under Diagnostic Code 7101, but the RO found that a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more could not be determined from the medical evidence. The Board finds this to be a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral vascular disease due to insufficient verification of in-service herbicide exposure at Cherry Point, North Carolina.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ is remanded.