Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and sleep apnea are not service-connected, but has found that his left knee condition may be secondary to his right knee disability. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea and hypertension for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The right ankle, left ankle, and left knee scars are not rated higher than the current 10 percent due to their non-painful and stable nature.,Tonsillitis is currently assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 6599-6516. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not warrant additional ratings.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, headache disorder (claimed as panic attacks), and sleep apnea. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disability and the manifestations of dizziness, syncope, and dyspnea. The issues of increased rating for hypertension, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, hypertension, and bladder condition as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.

The Veteran's kidney failure and hypertension are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with substance abuse and symptoms of depressive disorder.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD with substance abuse and symptoms of depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension on a direct basis, as the medical evidence does not support that it was incurred in or caused by service. The Veteran's claim is based solely on his own statements and opinions from private physicians who did not provide sufficient objective medical evidence to support the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence on whether the Veteran's respiratory impairment is related to service, specifically exposure to chemicals. The Veteran needs a VA examination to provide this information.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and right shoulder disorder, as well as an increased evaluation for the Veteran's right knee condition due to insufficient evidence or examination reports.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he and his representative have withdrawn the appeals for service connection for dry eye syndrome, isolated hypertension, a left foot disability, and a right foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension has not met the criteria for a compensable rating, as his blood pressure readings have consistently been below the threshold required for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension, which is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, was granted effective June 2020.

The Veteran's hypertension, characterized as diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more and requiring continuous medication for control, is granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent effective August 10, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension as there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during service. The Veteran's service records did not show he served within 12 nautical miles offshore of Vietnam or Guam, and the VA classified special operations logs provided insufficient evidence to establish exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension, which has been managed with continuous medication since at least 1992, is granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for left foot scars and his secondary service connection claim for essential hypertension are both remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development and failure to address certain theories of entitlement. The AOJ is required to obtain relevant hospitalization records from 1985 and assess the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, right ear hearing loss, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability are granted. The claims for hypertension and coronary artery disease are remanded.