Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, but remanded to determine if direct service connection can be established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sprained ribs and multiple sclerosis has been denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for hypertension.,Additional issues of service connection have been remanded, including those related to seizures, skin disorders, exanthema of the hands, chronic non-pressure ulcers of the lower limbs, scars, TBI, and ataxia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and hypertension due to issues with obtaining VA treatment records, as well as clarifying exposure history. The Veteran is not presumed exposed to herbicides or Agent Orange, but his hypertension may be related to stressors during service.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for service connection for osteosclerosis must be denied.,The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his spondylotic changes lumbar spine, but a VA examination is needed to comply with the August 2019 Board remand directives.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy and coronary artery disease status post myocardial infraction, stable angina and hyperlipidemia are both being remanded for further evaluation due to incomplete medical records and lack of exercise stress test.,The Veteran's spondylotic changes lumbar spine claim is also being remanded as the VA examination report noted that evidence of pain on passive range of motion testing was 'N/A'.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda, to include as due to herbicide agent exposure. The case is now returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and chronic sleep impairment), and insomnia are remanded due to insufficient evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's ruptured right biceps, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, type-II diabetes mellitus, and bilateral Charcot feet were not found to be related to service or service-connected disabilities.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits, including special monthly pension based upon the need for aid and attendance (SMP-AA), due to incomplete development of his medical records and income information.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to obtain private and Tricare treatment records related to the Veteran's bilateral knees, glaucoma, and hypertension. The Veteran is also asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for hypertension, specifically whether it is secondary to a service-connected disability or aggravated by any such disabilities. The Veteran's hypertension pre-existed certain service-connected conditions and an addendum opinion is needed to address these theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the failure to attend VA examinations. The respiratory disability claim is related to Pulmonary Hypertension, which may be aggravated by Wolff Parkinson White syndrome. The left ulna and radius fracture residuals need further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but has remanded the issue of service connection for a heart disorder. The case will be returned to the agency for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and diabetes mellitus based on the presumption of exposure to Gulf War conditions. Service connection was denied for fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), esophageal stricture, a chronic skin disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and nephrolithiasis.

The Veteran's vision loss is denied as not related to service or diabetes. A 70% rating for PTSD is granted from January 17, 2012. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is denied an increased rating beyond 10%. Erectile dysfunction secondary to hypertension is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and a low back disorder due to additional development being required. The issues are related to whether these conditions were present during periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, sleep disturbance (separate from service-connected anxiety disorder), and right first metatarsal arthritis status post fracture due to incomplete evidence and need for further medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left inguinal hernia and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus to service or connect to herbicide exposure. The effective date for hypertension was granted earlier but no earlier than April 5, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his 2005 surgical treatment at a VA Medical Center, and if so, whether they were proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, or similar fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are granted, with hypertension being granted under the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure. Other issues remain pending.