Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's hypertension is granted for presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure under the PACT Act. However, direct or secondary service connection for the period prior to the PACT Act's effective date requires further development.

The Board has dismissed the claim for nonservice-connected pension from July 8, 2019 and after as moot due to the Veteran's service-connected disability rating. The claim is remanded for additional development regarding pension prior to July 8, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension and hypertensive heart disease is remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding early manifestations.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II. The low back condition claim is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right knee tendinitis (limitation of flexion), and lumbar strain due to inadequate examinations. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart and/or circulatory disability, hypertension, and COPD. The decision on hypertension was granted due to the PACT Act of 2022, but the direct service connection claim remains before the Board.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, on a presumptive basis, due to exposure to herbicide agents as provided by the PACT Act. The Veteran was found to have been exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand and now qualifies under the PACT Act for this presumption.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, effective October 6, 2020. The RO granted an earlier effective date of July 2, 2014, for the cervical spine disability.,The Veteran's left and right thumb disabilities are each rated at 10 percent, effective November 1, 2012. Separate ratings were assigned for her urinary incontinence, bilateral foot disability, and cervical spine disability.,The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus with bilateral plantar fasciitis is currently rated as 50 percent disabling.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a result of the PACT Act, and the issues for dermatological disorder (initially claimed as skin cancer) and lung disorder are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a direct basis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The effective date is not specified as the PACT Act only established this presumption and does not affect the effective date of the award.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis was denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to the PACT Act presumption of exposure to herbicide agents. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and the role of his service-connected disabilities in causing or aggravating obesity, which led to hypertension and heart disease.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.,His peripheral neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease were granted secondary service connection based on causation by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus (DM II).,SMC for aid and attendance was also granted, as the Veteran required regular assistance from another person due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered a remand due to insufficient evidence of substantial compliance with the previous directive, and the Veteran's failure to report for an examination. The claim will be reconsidered after arranging a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for hyperlipidemia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, arterial hypertension, bilateral cataracts, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), low back disability, and osteoarthritis as the persuasive evidence did not show a relationship to service.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension has been granted, and the appeal is dismissed. The issue of whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his PTSD-related sleep disturbances remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chest pain (claimed as chest pain and hypertension) and tendonitis of the right hip, bilateral ankles, right wrist, and thumbs due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed due to herbicide exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. Service connection for renal disease is also granted as it is secondary to the now-service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is service-connected as it was present during his active duty and continues to this day.