Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of hypertension because a grant of service connection was already made in September 2022 and no disagreement with the rating or effective date has been filed.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a result of the PACT Act. The kidney disease secondary to hypertension, migraine headaches, diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, status post distal pancreatectomy, and dizziness are all remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and hypertension under the provisions of the PACT Act, which expanded presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.,Prostate cancer is now presumed due to herbicide agent exposure during service at U-Tapao Royal Thailand Air Force Base (RTAFB). Hypertension was also added as a condition that can be presumed due to such exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for Raynaud's disease and its secondary conditions due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding whether the condition preexisted service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his active-duty service and his current condition. The Board also found that his PTSD and hepatitis C did not cause or aggravate his hypertension.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted as service-connected due to exposure to toxic chemicals during his time in service.,The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected based on exposure to toxic chemicals during his time in service.,The Veteran's restless leg syndrome, secondary to Parkinson's disease, is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, secondary to prostate cancer, is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service-connected due to exposure to toxic chemicals during his time in service.,The Veteran's urinary tract condition is granted as service-connected based on exposure to toxic chemicals during his time in service.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted as service-connected based on exposure to toxic chemicals during his time in service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, sleep apnea, CAD, and hypertension, all found to be aggravated by service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's heart disability, left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, kidney dysfunction (secondary to hypertension), residuals of strokes, and dementia are all granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam-era service.

The Board has not fully addressed the Veteran's claims for service connection of his heart conditions, specifically hyperlipidemia, high cholesterol, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. The case is being remanded to obtain a new examination and medical opinion that addresses whether these conditions are related to active service or caused by his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and vertigo are denied.

The Board has ordered remand to determine the level of functional impairment caused by each service-connected disability, including those related to diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claim for SMC based on a single service-connected disability rated as total is being considered.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and disability ratings have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his attorney.

The Veteran's hypertension was not rated compensable prior to February 12, 2020. A rating of 10 percent is granted from that date.,Right knee issues are remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome has been granted.,Claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, nephropathy (chronic kidney disease), and high cholesterol. The Board found that there was no evidence of continuous symptoms since service discharge or a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension have been denied.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated as noncompensable prior to October 8, 2020 and denied thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination in previous decisions, requiring a new VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypertension was denied, and his claim for service connection for GERD was granted. The decision also noted that the Veteran's hypertension appeared to be well-controlled by medication, with diastolic pressure predominantly below 100 and systolic pressure predominantly below 200.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining missing active duty STRs and determining whether additional VA examinations or medical opinions are necessary.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied due to lack of current medical evidence showing a diagnosis. For PTSD, the Veteran needs to provide more detail about his in-service stressor.