Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his acquired psychiatric disorder and other physical conditions, are considered to be of sufficient severity to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined impact of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as he has already been receiving a 100% rating. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD and service connection for hypertension, which was claimed as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service, as the evidence is at least in equipoise that the condition is related to this exposure.

The Board denied service connection for back disability, hypertension, bleeding ulcers, stroke, and right eye disability.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, and hypertension, all of which are found to be caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected ankle and foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed as he withdrew his claims for several conditions, including headaches, pneumonia, bacterial meningitis, Athlete's foot, hyperlipidemia, and skin conditions. The remaining issues of service connection for hypertension, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability, but denied service connection for back disability, hypertension, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of strokes, memory loss, and hypertension due to the Veteran's withdrawal prior to a decision.

The Veteran's psoriasis was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred during a period of active duty. However, the Veteran's hypertension was denied service connection as there was no evidence that it was caused by an injury or aggravated during periods of active duty for training.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has not received a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension, which is related to his service-connected PTSD. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran withdrew it, specifically for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder disability and hypertension, finding no evidence of current disabilities within one year post-service or causation to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam. The PACT Act of 2022 was cited as probative evidence supporting this decision.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and joint pain as due to an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI. The Veteran's hypertension was not diagnosed, his hearing loss did not meet VA criteria, and there is no evidence of a current joint pain disability apart from what has already been service-connected.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for recurrent sleep disability and hypertension due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions. The Veteran's obesity is not considered an intermediary step, but rather a result of consuming excessive calories.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension due to new evidence showing worsening of the condition during active duty. However, the case is remanded for a VA medical opinion to determine if the preexisting hypertension was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, residuals of heat stroke, left-sided chest pain, and left arm disability have all been denied. Additionally, his initial compensable ratings for right hip limitation of extension, left hip limitation of extension, right hip flexion prior to December 2, 2021, right hip rotation prior to December 2, 2021, left hip flexion, and left hip rotation prior to December 2, 2021 have also been denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the Veteran's heart conditions, CTS of the wrists, Parkinson's disease, and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss also needs further examination.