Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected hypertension, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for hypertension, finding that his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 7101.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, hernia condition, right ankle and leg disabilities, sinusitis, cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions, chronic heart disease, chronic heart failure, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The appeals were all denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a left index finger condition, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than February 13, 2013 for service connection of chronic renal disease with hypertension and for a higher rating for his hypertension. The claims are being returned to obtain additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions addressing her claims related to PTSD and physical pain from service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction as secondary to prostate cancer, hypertension, arthritis, heart condition, fatigue (including CFS), and a condition of the bilateral upper extremities (peripheral neuropathy) are granted. The conditions are presumed due to exposure to burn pits during service in Egypt.

The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence was denied. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied, as were the claims for tinea pedis and left knee cystic mass.

Service connection is granted for lumbar spine degenerative disease, hypertension (based on a claim filed in June 2018), left lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to diabetes, and right lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to diabetes.,Service connection is remanded for left hip impairment and right hip impairment due to service-connected musculoskeletal disorders.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease, hypertension, residuals of a stroke, and a mutating growth as there was no credible evidence of herbicide exposure or other in-service causation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evaluations and evidence. The Board will not make a final determination on these issues until further review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability during active duty service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have chronic recurrent hypertension while in service and that his current diagnosis was not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to a need for additional evidence, specifically regarding exposure to toxic substances during service. The Veteran's MOS as a cryogenic fluids equipment operator suggests he was exposed to TERA (toxic-exposed risk activity).

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied a compensable rating.,The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder did not meet the criteria for an effective period under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 prior to July 13, 2018, or subsequent to August 31, 2018.

The Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101, as his blood pressure readings were consistently below 160 systolic or 100 diastolic. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's lower back condition is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's hypertension, secondary to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease has been denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's hypertension claim has been remanded due to the inadequacy of the April 2020 VA examination and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus (due to herbicide exposure) were granted initial ratings, with hypertension receiving a non-compensable rating prior to September 7, 2022, and a 10 percent rating from that date. The Veteran's diabetes was granted a 40 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy, all potentially related to herbicide exposure during his time at Fort Gordon, Georgia. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's IBS is granted a rating of 30 percent for the period on appeal. The service connection claims for hypertension and OSA are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.