Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development regarding whether the Veteran's service connection claim should be granted based on exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, as per the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.

Service connection for hypertension is granted due to the PACT Act, which establishes presumptive service connection for hypertension associated with herbicide exposure. The issue of direct service connection between hypertension and herbicide agent exposure will be remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and reopening of previously denied claims. The main issue is that there is insufficient evidence to determine if any of these conditions had onset during or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to a lack of development, including obtaining VA medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and right Achilles tendonitis have been granted service connection. However, the claim for service connection of a low back disability is remanded.,Service connection has not been established for sinusitis.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and hypertension have been rated based on their current manifestations, but the Board has not found evidence of additional symptoms warranting higher ratings.,For TDIU, the Veteran was granted a 100% schedular disability rating for chronic renal disease, which is considered an 'additional' disability in this context.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection under the PACT Act, while his cardiovascular disorder remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 70 percent, effective May 20, 2010. The Board has found the evidence to be in approximate balance as to whether the criteria for a higher rating are met.

The Board has granted service connection for sterility due to in-service bilateral tubal ligation. Service connection for hypertension is remanded as there are insufficient medical records to determine its onset or relationship to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection of migraine headaches, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea. The issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disability, sleep apnea, gout, hypertension, GERD, sinus disability, chest pains, left knee disability, and back disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease has been granted, as new and material evidence was received.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has also been granted, with the condition being related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to service-connected disabilities, as his conditions do not meet the legal criteria for payment at either rate.

The Board denied a compensable rating for service-connected hypertension, finding that the evidence did not show a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for RUE radiculopathy, service connection for hypertension, and an earlier effective date for TDIU prior to August 22, 2019 are all dismissed. The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the higher rating of RUE radiculopathy in February 2020. Service connection was granted for hypertension in May 2021, but as a full grant, it is considered resolved. The TDIU claim was also granted with an effective date of August 22, 2019, and the Veteran withdrew his legacy appeal.

The Veteran's claims for OSA, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a right forearm laceration scar have been granted. However, his claim for hypertension has not met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's sleep disturbances and hypertension are granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been granted service connection based on the PACT Act presumption of exposure to herbicide agents. The right hand neurological disability, left hand neurological disability, skin disability (including melanoma, multiple myeloma, and nevus), organic disease of the central nervous system (previously claimed as residuals of a stroke), and respiratory disorder (including asthma and chronic cough) have been remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, ED, hypertension, and eye disability. The increased rating claims for right hip limitation of extension and flexion prior to July 9, 2017, and a compensable rating thereafter are denied due to the Veteran's failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.