Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for increased evaluations and service connection. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, hypertension, a vision or eye disability (dry eye syndrome), and sleep apnea due to inadequacies in the underlying VA opinions. The Veteran's claims are now pending with the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted effective August 10, 2022, pursuant to The PACT Act of 2022. Other issues remain unresolved and are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, increased ratings for bilateral feet disability and hypertension due to potential issues with the adequacy of previous examinations and the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and a psychiatric disability due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's assertions regarding his service and exposure are sufficient to trigger VA's duty to provide an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disability, including hypertension, has been reopened. Service connection is granted for hypertension. The Board finds the Veteran's cardiovascular disorder other than hypertension and left shoulder disability are related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with obtaining and reviewing medical records, as well as needing a VA examination. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a higher rating for migraines and a compensable rating for hypertension due to the Veteran's representative requesting withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, hypertension, and bronchitis as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Veteran was not shown to have any nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's cause of death is related to his active duty service or Reserve service, but a VA medical opinion is needed to determine the exact nature and etiology.,The appellant has no legal basis for accrued benefits as there were no funds owed to the Veteran at the time of his death. The claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits was denied due to the appellant's income exceeding the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR).,Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is remanded, and a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's cause of death is related to his Reserve service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that the benefit of doubt should be given in favor of the Veteran.

The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for cardiac condition is denied.,The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for thyroid cancer is granted and remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened, and the issue of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, scar, right middle finger, third digit, residuals of left stab wounds to the thigh and buttock/ tender scar with limitation of flexion and pain on motion, rhinitis, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus type II (secondary to high blood pressure), retinopathy, hernia disability, chronic kidney disease (claimed as renal failure), arthritis of the right hand (variously claimed as arthritis of multiple joints), and testicular disability/ epididymitis is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for further medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and left knee conditions, do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and right knee disability, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and military service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, migraine headaches, back disability, arthritis of unspecified joints to include left knee disability, residuals of injury to the left and right toes, IBS, and hypertension have been remanded due to incomplete service records and need further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation. The Board found that these conditions did not manifest during active service or are otherwise causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas since September 28, 2018. The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD from that date.,Service connection for hypertension has been granted based on the PACT Act presumption due to exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in July 2004, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The effective date of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy is set at July 21, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for psoriasis, GERD, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and right knee disability are denied. The effective date of service connection for presbyopia with hypermetropia, astigmatism, and pinguecula is set at July 21, 2011.