Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for high cholesterol is denied as it is not a disability eligible for service connection.,The Veteran's claims for right upper, left upper, right lower, and left lower extremity nerve disabilities are remanded due to the need for further development including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to his failure to appear for VA examinations. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for seborrheic dermatitis, service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, hypertension, respiratory disorders (bronchitis and COPD), and bilateral foot disabilities (pes planus) are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need to verify in-service stressors and determine if the Veteran served in Vietnam or other locations where herbicide exposure is presumed.

The Veteran's claims for high blood pressure, colitis, and prostate cancer residuals are denied.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral elbow disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for vertigo, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss need to be determined.,The 30 percent rating for scalp laceration needs to be reconsidered.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for vertigo and scalp laceration are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has found that additional relevant evidence has been added to the claims file and has remanded the case for readjudication by the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted. The Board finds the criteria for service connection are met and the claim is granted. Service connection for a heart valve condition is remanded due to conflicting theories of entitlement.

The Board has denied service connection for a shoulder condition and hypertension (HTN). The Veteran's shoulder conditions were not shown to be related to his service, while the Board found that HTN was not shown to be related to his service. Service connection is being remanded for an acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection for PTSD and major depression has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension based on legal provisions other than the PACT Act, and remanded the issues of service connection for a cardiovascular disease (other than hypertension) and asthma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and vertigo, finding that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current conditions and his active-duty service. The Board noted that while the Veteran served in Vietnam, he did not have any diagnosed cases of either condition during service or within one year post-service. Additionally, there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current vertigo to his exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran submitted a VA Form 10182 expressing disagreement with the February 17, 2023, rating notice regarding his previously denied claim of hypertension. However, there was no actual denial of service connection for hypertension in the February 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a 10 percent evaluation, the minimum compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied in April 2004, and the effective date of service connection is being denied prior to April 29, 2014.,Claims for various foot conditions, ankle conditions, wrist condition, low back condition, knee conditions, hip condition, bronchitis, sleep apnea, hypertension, and headaches were all denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased rating and earlier effective date for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical opinion addressing direct service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened and granted due to presumed exposure to an herbicide agent in Vietnam.,Service connection was also granted for right ear hearing loss based on in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities required him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance (A&A) from February 7, 2018.