Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension have been denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, while his hypertension remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease and hypertension have been granted. The IHD claim is based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents, while the hypertension claim is under the recently enacted PACT Act.,Both conditions are associated with presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in or near the Korean DMZ.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and a compensable disability rating for hypertension was denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection is fixed at August 10, 2022 due to the PACT Act, which added hypertension to the list of diseases presumptively associated with exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted under the PACT Act, effective from August 10, 2022. The claim for an increased rating of diabetes mellitus type II remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and depression.

The previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted. However, the Veteran's current condition does not meet the criteria for service connection.,The previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability has been reopened and granted. The Veteran currently has a diagnosed right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause and aggravation of the Veteran's chest pain, which is currently service-connected. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis to her PTSD was reopened and granted.,Service connection for the left shoulder disability, which is now referred to as degenerative joint disease status post replacement, was also granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, coronary artery bypass graft, angina, hypertension, and hypertensive heart disease have all been granted.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's adrenal gland tumor and enlarged node in breast are not service-connected as they did not develop during his active duty or are not related to an injury or disease incurred in service.,His hypertension is not service-connected as there is no evidence of its development during his active duty, reserve service, or secondary to a service-connected condition. The Veteran's assertion that it was due to exposure to diesel fuel in service is not supported by the record.,The Veteran's kidney disability, pulmonary edema, cerebrovascular accident, and Conn's disease are not service-connected as there is no evidence of their development during his active duty or reserve service periods.,His paralysis of the left lower extremity and paralysis of the left upper extremity are not service-connected as they did not develop during his active duty or are not related to an injury or disease incurred in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death. The claim is being returned for a VA medical opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, cardiomyopathy, and hypertension as they were not timely appealed within one year from the October 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostatitis, hypertension, depression, hypothyroidism, anemia with iron deficiency, sleep apnea, upper and lower peripheral neuropathy, are all denied.,No evidence of in-service injury or disease is found to be related to the Veteran's current conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected, with an effective date of October 1, 2022, due to the PACT Act. The condition is presumed related to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being in equipoise.,Other issues related to hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, hip and knee disabilities, foot disabilities, seizure disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, eye disability, and hepatitis are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the reopening of a claim for service connection for hypertension, which is now considered secondary to diabetes mellitus type II. The issue regarding bilateral knee disability remains pending as it was remanded and requires further examination.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected OSA. The Board has also remanded for further development regarding ratings for his right knee, left knee, and left hip conditions.

The Veteran's death was not due to service-connected conditions, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for PTSD, agoraphobia, anxiety disorder, depression, and hypertension. The decision also includes a request for additional development regarding these matters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergies, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure as secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder due to incomplete medical opinions provided in previous examinations.