Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory condition. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be present during service or related to service, while his respiratory condition is pending further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology post-service and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted as his hypertension, which was presumed to be caused by herbicide agent exposure during service in Vietnam, was found to be the principal cause of his death. The Board also found that his COPD was a contributory cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions regarding various service connection claims.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a result of presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service, and the PACT Act now makes hypertension presumptively associated with such exposure.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral dysfunction, service connection for hypertension, left knee disability, psychiatric disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and left ear hearing loss are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded as the examiner did not address whether in-service elevated blood pressure readings could have been an early manifestation of later diagnosed hypertension.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is remanded because the VA examiner did not consider objective signs and symptoms of his left knee complaints, including a history of left knee sprain from employee health clinic records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded as the VA examiner did not address the Veteran's VA treatment records which show treatment for adjustment disorder, depression, and anxiety during the period on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded due to incomplete medical records from his private podiatrist being sought.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded as VA treatment records are needed to determine if an audiogram conducted by the Veteran's private physician, Dr. N.A.O., around April 2010 exists.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches from September 22, 2014 is remanded as updated employment records are needed to determine missed time due to migraines and the Social Security Administration records have not been obtained.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as his July 2020 Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability raised this issue.

The Veteran's ocular hypertension with glaucoma was granted a 30% rating as of January 28, 2020. Prior to this date, the condition did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The DIC claim is denied as the Veteran did not meet the statutory duration requirement for a 100% rating at the time of his death. The cause of death remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his death.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and active military service.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted a 10% rating from July 1, 2015 to August 31, 2015. The claim for an increased rating prior to and after this period is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The Board also grants service connection for the residuals of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) secondary to his now service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected cardiovascular disability raised a secondary service connection claim for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for strokes and hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure, as part of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, sick sinus syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and essential hypertension as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee total arthroplasty. The VA is directed to obtain any outstanding service treatment records during the Veteran's Army Reserves period of service and provide additional examinations with appropriate VA examiners to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, and various neuropathy disorders and hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any in-service endocrine, cardiovascular, or vision injury, disease, or event, and that symptoms of diabetes, hypertension, and a vision disorder were not continuous after service separation or manifested to a compensable degree within one year of service separation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected joint disabilities. His hypertension was not shown during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and there is no evidence of a link between his current diagnosis and military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for nosebleeds and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, diabetes mellitus type II remains at 10 percent, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are both rated at 10 percent. Service connection for hypertension was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, erectile dysfunction (claimed as impotence), and peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities due to a lack of evidence showing chronic symptoms during service or continuity of symptomatology after separation from active duty. The Veteran's claims were also not supported by medical opinions linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including residuals of traumatic brain injury, left shoulder osteoarthritis, bilateral ankle condition, nephrolithiasis (due to herbicide exposure), bilateral knee osteoarthritis, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, BLE sciatica, hypertension, and diverticulosis. The Veteran did not have these conditions at the time of service or within one year after discharge.