Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is not related to his military service or proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.,The Board also denied service connection for hypertension, concluding that there was no evidence linking the condition to the Veteran's military service or to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a duty to assist error. A new opinion is needed to assess the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for hypertension was initially decided in the April 2023 rating decision. The Appellant is not eligible to receive attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded due to the initial nature of the claims, as attorneys may only charge for representation after an initial AOJ decision.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange, during his military service in Vietnam. The PACT Act of 2022 has added hypertension to the list of presumptively associated conditions with such exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as they were received within one year of his separation from active service, and the effective dates cannot be earlier than August 1, 2013.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Other claims are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, and dilated hypertensive cardiomyopathy are all found to be secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including venous thrombosis, embolism, thoracic aortic aneurysm, pleural effusion in left hemithorax, bibasilar subsegment atelectasis and linear atelectasis of left lower lobe, anemia, kidney disease, hypertension, calcified pretracheal and hilar lymph nodes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, nail disorder, dementia, osteopenia, skin rash, and tremors. The Board found that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and service or an in-service injury.

The Board denied a compensable initial disability rating for hypertension, finding that the evidence did not show systolic pressure of predominantly 160 or more or diastolic pressure of predominantly 100 or more.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, hypertension disability, and erectile dysfunction secondary to service-connected PTSD should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, hypertension, and migraine headaches due to the evidence showing a current disability and in-service incurrence of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including headaches (migraines), neurological signs and symptoms, psychiatric disability, hip disabilities, knee disabilities, plantar fasciitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids, obstructive sleep apnea, fatigue, hypertension, glaucoma, and optic atrophy have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims during his March 2021 Board hearing.,The appeals were withdrawn by the Veteran in writing prior to the promulgation of a decision by the Board.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD, HTN, right shoulder strain, lower back disorder, and left lower extremity nerve damage due to potential toxic exposure during service. The Veteran is presumed to have participated in a TERA.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, right foot disability, hypertension, and an eye disability due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The AOJ is directed to verify the Veteran's periods of military service and obtain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's hypertension, which was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, is granted as a service connection. Consequently, the related dizziness is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, low back disability, variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder (PTSD and major depression), hypertension, and left ear hearing loss. The maximum schedular rating of 10% is assigned for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his conditions did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims related to hypertension, kidney disorder, bilateral eye disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's exposure to helicopter emissions is considered in these cases.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including colon polyp, bilateral knee pain, loss of memory, erectile dysfunction, partial loss of eyesight, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease were denied.,Service connection was not granted on a presumptive basis due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to exposure to herbicide agents.