Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions including arthritis, heart condition, eye condition, insomnia, hypertension, kidney condition, hearing loss, lower back condition, cervical degenerative disc disease (claimed as neck arthritis and arthritis all systems), and depression due to new evidence being added since the last decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected asthma and his claimed conditions, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, right knee condition, low back condition, and right shoulder condition. The VA is requested to obtain new opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of service-connected atrial fibrillation and hypertension, an earlier effective date for a 60 percent evaluation of ischemic heart disease and hypertensive heart disease, and entitlement to a TDIU are being remanded due to the need to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error by associating private treatment records with his claims file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected hypertension, finding that his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted on a secondary basis due to his service-connected back disability. The Board finds that the evidence supports the conclusion that the Veteran's hypertension is caused by his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and ED have been granted under the PACT Act of 2022. The effective date is January 31, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, headaches, hypertension, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disorders, were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his blood pressure readings were consistently below the threshold required for such a rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 10, 2023 for service connection of hypertensive renal disease was granted. The claim for a compensable rating for hypertension is remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension, which required continuous medication for control, was granted a 10 percent rating from March 10, 2021.

The appeals for service connection on the issues of colon polyp, duodenal cancer, malignant neoplasm of the colon, hypertension, and supraventricular tachycardia have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder, is related to service. The cervical spine, hip, knee, vertigo, and hypertension disabilities are also remanded for further examination.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension is dismissed as the claim has been fully granted. The appeals for service connection for glaucoma and left knee condition are remanded.

The claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's RLE radiculopathy has been granted a 20 percent rating since May 23, 2017.,The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy has been granted a 20 percent rating since May 23, 2018.,The Veteran's hypertension has been granted a 10 percent rating since May 23, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted. The remaining claims have been denied or are being remanded.,Service connection was not established for the following conditions: back disorder, psychiatric disorder, bilateral eye disorder, respiratory disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right upper extremity disorder, left upper extremity disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. Hypertension is currently under review.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing VA and private medical records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, recurrent hemorrhoids, a recurrent bilateral eye disability (glaucoma and cataracts), a recurrent disability manifested by hair loss, a dental disability (rotten teeth), hypertension, erectile dysfunction, a recurrent lower extremity disability (tendinitis), and bilateral hearing loss. These claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection for lumbar spine disability and neck disability. The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 70% rating since September 5, 2017. Tinnitus is not rated higher than the current 10% due to lack of separate evaluations for each ear.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bronchitis and hypertension for further development, including obtaining VA examinations.