Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's GERD and hypertension are granted as secondary to service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities. The appeal for migraines is remanded.

The Veteran's headaches, hypertension, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, and urethral strictures have been granted service connection effective November 1, 2018.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's kidney disorder has not been linked to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for TERA examinations considering his exposure to toxic substances during his service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has granted service connection for vestibular disability (including vertigo), left knee condition, and hypertension condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected migraines, left ankle condition, and chronic pain. The conditions are related to the service-connected disabilities and have been aggravated by them.

The Board has denied service connection for a right eye disability, left foot disability (to include pes planus and heel spur), right foot disability (to include pes planus and a heel spur), left knee chondromalacia patella, left knee laxity, left ankle sprain residuals, and hypertension. The decision also dismissed the claim for TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a penile disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and TMJ dysfunction. The appeals are remanded for additional development regarding COPD, right lung removal, and a headache disorder.,SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is denied as there is no service-connected disability related to the Veteran's condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes as secondary to the Veteran's claimed psychiatric condition due to a lack of verification of his reported service in Panama.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for a right knee condition due to its grant in full. Service connection is granted for diabetes, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The issue of service connection for gout is remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated due to exposure to hazardous materials during his period of active-duty service. The PACT Act requires VA to obtain a TERA-specific examination for the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service and thus no presumption of exposure applies. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to be related to his military service due to the PACT Act.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed.,Service connection for hypertension is granted, based on the PACT Act presumption of association with herbicide exposure. The effective date is August 10, 2022.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tonsillitis. The claims for service connection for diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and pharyngitis are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, long and short-term memory loss, rhinitis, and sinusitis as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. The diagnoses are considered chronic under VA regulations and the Veteran's statements of continuity of symptoms after service have been found credible.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraines and hypertension due to inadequate compliance with previous remand instructions. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Barrett's esophagus, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding potential toxic exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and incomplete records. The issues include OSA, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, right foot disability, and left foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound criteria is denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to SMC prior to May 23, 2008.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to conflicting opinions and need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a 10 percent disability rating from March 2, 2023, to September 3, 2023. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating prior to September 3, 2023, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter for hypertension is REMANDED.,The Veteran's left wrist disability was rated at a 10 percent disability rating from October 30, 2019. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating prior to October 30, 2019, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter for a left wrist disability is REMANDED.