Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

All issues related to service connection have been either granted in full or finally denied by the Board without subsequent appeal.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; coronary artery disease; hypertension; left eye ischemic optic neuropathy; and nuclear sclerosis of bilateral eyes have been reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for all conditions.

The Board has previously remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, finding that additional opinions were needed due to conflicting medical opinions. The case is being returned to obtain new VA examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, granted under the PACT Act, is upheld. His initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 23, 2019, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter are denied. A separate 40 percent rating for TBI residuals apart from PTSD with TBI residuals is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, left carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and lumbar spine disorder were denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) was granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension is granted, with the PACT Act being the basis for this decision.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure (hypertension), and several other conditions due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence showing that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's hypertension and GERD are not rated higher than the current 10 percent levels.,Chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 50 percent prior to April 30, 2019, but denied for a rating in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for asthma, sleep apnea, and hypertension due to incomplete information in the previous VA examination. The examiner is requested to provide a new opinion considering the Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations and his presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during such service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, finding that his current conditions are related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents and service-connected conditions.

Service connection is granted for seizures, memory loss, and hypertension.,The Veteran's left shoulder condition, fibromyalgia, back condition, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and skin condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act.,Stage 4 kidney failure and congestive heart failure are both granted as secondary to service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam. Service connection for hypertension is granted pursuant to the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied as the evidence did not establish a relationship between her current diagnosis and her period of service or her service-connected PTSD and IBS.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for IBS prior to August 18, 2022 was denied due to insufficient evidence showing that her service-connected disabilities aggravated her hypertension beyond natural progression.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD prior to August 18, 2022 was denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are granted service connection, but the claim for hypertension is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion. The back disability claim is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, finding that these conditions are not related to active service or any incident of service, including as due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the claim for burial benefits is also remanded due to potential exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for cause of death may be granted if it can be shown that his coronary artery disease was caused by herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. Additional development is needed as there are outstanding VA treatment records that have not been obtained.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for hypertension is denied as the evidence does not show that an increase in disability was factually ascertainable within one year prior to the April 2017 claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected bipolar disorder and any medications used to treat it. The examiner should consider the side effects of Lamotrigine prescribed for bipolar disorder.