Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity during service or manifestations to a degree of 10 percent disabling within one year of separation. The Veteran's lay opinion regarding the etiology of his hypertension was not considered competent.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, and Sleep Apnea due to insufficient compliance with prior instructions.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for hypertension (HTN) as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus II (DM II). The case is being sent back for a new VA examination to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's HTN and DM II.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy; hepatitis C; dizziness; hypersensitivity to light and noise; diarrhea; fainting disability; sinus disability; bronchitis; GERD; headache disability; hypertension; chronic fatigue syndrome; sleep apnea; erectile dysfunction; chest pain disability; and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded for the following: obtaining VA treatment records, private treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and completing a TDIU application form; providing adequate VA examinations for sinus, respiratory, GERD, headache, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and chest pain disabilities; and providing an examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hypertension, scars from thoracic and lumbar spine surgery, and GERD due to insufficient evidence showing that his conditions met the criteria for a 10% rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability as defined by regulation, and the Board has granted TDIU from February 7, 2011, to November 5, 2020.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act. His heart conditions are granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show he was completely unemployable.

The Veteran's hypertension requires continuous medication for control and is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that a rating of 10 percent, but not higher, is warranted.,VA examinations are inadequate to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee strain. A new VA examination is needed prior to adjudication of this claim.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and erectile dysfunction have been diagnosed but the medical opinions provided by VA are inadequate. Addendum VA medical opinions are needed prior to adjudication of these claims.,VA examinations are inadequate to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee strain. A new VA examination is needed prior to adjudication of this claim.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected and the Board finds no evidence to support a finding that any of his conditions were caused by VA treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches and bilateral eye condition, are denied as there is no objective evidence of current disabilities. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is less likely than not caused by military noise exposure.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure during service, due to the PACT Act of 2022.

The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all granted as service connected. Tinnitus was previously granted but is now dismissed due to a full grant of benefits.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a 10 percent rating for the entire period on appeal, as his blood pressure readings have consistently been below the threshold required for a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims of service connection for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, basal cell carcinoma (claimed as skin cancer), tinea corpora, tinea cruris, and psoriasis are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for an eye disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for HTN, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The claim for an increased rating for tinnitus has been remanded.

Coronary artery disease and hypertension have been granted service connection, while a skin disorder has been remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension are presumed to be related to his military service due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during his Vietnam service.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, OSA, and GERD due to the need for further examination and opinion. The Veteran's weight gain is also a factor being considered in these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is still working and has provided no evidence of unemployment.