Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as there is no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The appeals for ratings related to migraine headaches, bilateral progressive keloid formation, and hypertension are dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for PTSD, with a rating of 100 percent effective July 3, 2018. The issues of service connection for encephalopathy (secondary to PTSD), hypertension (secondary to PTSD), earlier effective date for TDIU, and SMCs are remanded.

The Veteran's applications to reopen claims for left shoulder disability, erectile dysfunction, and migraines have been granted. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran is eligible for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The hypertension issue remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's hypertension, atrial fibrillation and chronic diastolic heart failure, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted as service-connected due to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for hypertension due to service connection, as it is unclear whether his service qualifies for the presumption of herbicide exposure under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019. The AOJ must conduct further research and provide a determination based on this development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and a right knee disorder due to lack of current diagnoses in some cases.

The Veteran's diabetes and hypertension claims are pending. The diabetes claim is denied as the hospitalization was not for a period in excess of 21 days, while the hypertension claim is remanded due to lack of recent examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and hypertension are all granted. However, the claim for hypertension is remanded to determine if it is related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and substance abuse disorder have been denied.,VA found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected hypertension does not warrant a compensable rating at any time during the pendency of the appeal, as the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted with an effective date of August 12, 2020.,A rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a disability rating of 70 percent from September 26, 2022 to May 24, 2023. The TDIU claim was also granted during this period.

The Veteran's hypertension was rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7101. The Veteran's diastolic and systolic pressures were within the range of 62 to 92 and 121 to 170 respectively, which do not meet the specific criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lymphedema caused by cellulitis, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of March 9, 2021.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The examiner must review the NAS Update 2018.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's chronic epistaxis and hypertension are related to her service, granting her claims for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a direct basis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty, but denied service connection for high cholesterol as it is not considered a disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for hypertension.