Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, Crohn's Disease, and gouty arthritis of the joints, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left wrist disability and diabetes, rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of September 7, 2021. The Board granted an effective date of September 7, 2021, for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board has granted revision of the August 2023 rating decision that assigned a noncompensable disability rating for hypertension, and assigned a 10 percent disability rating. The claim of service connection for back disability is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis, shortness of breath (including emphysema), depression, and hypertension were not incurred in or related to his military service. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims have been dismissed due to their death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these appeals.

The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction claims have been denied. The effective date for SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is denied.,An initial compensable rating for hypertension has not been met due to lack of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral pes planus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes, and hypertension due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided by the February 2020 VA examiner. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the ratings and service connection claims related to thoracolumbar spondylosis, hypertension, and radiculopathy left lower extremity sciatic nerve.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension existed prior to his entry into military service and was not aggravated during or as a result of his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted as due to herbicide agent exposure. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for a new VA medical opinion to address whether it is related to his service-connected PTSD with MDD and sleep disturbances, as well as if it was caused by or aggravated by his PTSD.

Your claim for service connection for hypertension has been resolved in your favor due to the PACT Act, which grants presumptive service connection for this condition. The rating assigned is 100%.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of medical opinions regarding service connection claims, including those related to hypertension, skeletal arthritis, psychiatric disorders, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, OSA, HTN, and other conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, and DMII due to outstanding VA and private treatment records needing development. Additionally, a new VA medical opinion is needed to address whether these conditions are related to his in-service exposure to asbestos.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for vision disorder and hypertension due to issues with notification of scheduled examinations, lack of compliance with prior remand directives, and need for clarification regarding the onset of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and inadequate medical opinions regarding the cause of death. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which includes esophageal cancer, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disability, but denied service connection for all other conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and review due to errors in considering direct and indirect complications of the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, including chronic kidney disease, syncope, cataracts, urinary tract infection, bilateral cramps in the lower extremities, and tinea cruris.