Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The rating reductions for hypertension and allergic rhinitis were found to be improper due to lack of proper notice, and the ratings are restored. The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, which may be related to service or his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case to consider whether the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis. The Veteran's long history of working in a position requiring significant ambulation, combined with his left ankle disability, makes it reasonably possible that he cannot maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims, and the current diagnoses are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection, as the evidence is in equipoise regarding its relationship to his active duty service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to a lack of audiometric testing meeting VA criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the current severity of hepatitis, whether service connection for hypertension can be granted based on exposure to herbicide agents under the PACT Act, and if an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD or insomnia disorder are related to service. The Veteran's case will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder is related to his in-service experiences, including harassment and racism. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claims for hypertension, migraine headaches, joint pain of bilateral lower extremities, stomach disability, and OSA was granted.,His PTSD is rated at a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, heart disorder, edema of the lower extremities, prostate disorder, and urinary tract disorder due to inadequate etiological opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran must be afforded additional VA examinations to determine the onset and/or etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's COPD is denied as it is not related to service, including asbestos exposure.,The Veteran's hypertension is denied as it is not secondary to PTSD or COPD.,The Veteran's diabetes is denied as it is not due to herbicide exposure and is not secondary to hypertension or COPD.,The Veteran's heart condition is denied as it is not related to service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied as it is not related to service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is denied as it is not related to service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's vision problems are denied as they are not related to diabetes or COPD.,The Veteran's stomach condition is denied as it is not related to diabetes or COPD.,The Veteran's nerve problems are denied as they are not related to diabetes or COPD.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is denied as it is not related to diabetes or COPD.,The Veteran's colonic polyps are denied as they are not related to diabetes or COPD.

The Veteran's hypertension, diagnosed as major depressive disorder, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted service connection.,There is no indication of a specific exposure basis for any of the conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension (pre-PACT Act) have been withdrawn.,Hypertension is presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The cases of hypertension, sinusitis, and bilateral eye irritation are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's PTSD and prostate cancer have been granted increased disability ratings, and he is now eligible for TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claims for service connection for a skin condition, allergic rhinitis, obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension was granted. Service connection for a skin condition is granted. Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. Service connection for hypertension (effective August 10, 2022) due to the PACT Act of 2022 is granted.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension prior to August 10, 2022 is remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension have been granted service connection as they began during active service.

For the period from March 6, 2009 to June 21, 2011, the Veteran was not found unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.,Beginning June 22, 2011, the Veteran is granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II and associated disabilities have rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment since January 3, 2014. He is also entitled to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from January 3, 2014 to November 19, 2019 due to his need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left arm and left elbow disabilities are dismissed. Service connection for hypertension is granted under the PACT Act, while other issues remain pending.