Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal and there is no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and initial increased rating for service-connected hypertension due to a duty-to-assist error, as well as inextricably intertwined issues of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, a neck disability, diabetes, gout, and hypertension, were denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The appellant withdrew their appeal for an initial compensable rating for hypertension, which was related to Agent Orange exposure. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 1, 2022.

The Veteran's hypertension, which is service-connected under the PACT Act, has not met the criteria for a compensable rating (higher than 0 percent) due to his blood pressure readings never showing diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his blood pressure readings have been consistently below the threshold required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased compensable evaluation for hypertension is remanded due to the failure to obtain a VA examination prior to the July 2023 rating decision.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, right foot and left foot disabilities, skin disability of the right leg, right shoulder disability, sleep disability, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, TBI, right foot disability, left foot disability, onychomycosis of the right great toe, tinea unguium of the left great toe and ingrown toenail of the left hallux, dental disability for compensation purposes, and vitamin D deficiency are denied as not service-connected.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for hypertension and remanded the issue of service connection for chronic kidney disease as a complication of service-connected hypertension. The case is now being sent back to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current chronic kidney disease is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 3, 2012. A total disability rating for compensation due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis is granted as of November 3, 2017.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of diastolic or systolic pressure predominantly meeting criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and presumed herbicide exposure during service. A new examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of skin cancer excision scars, bilateral hearing loss, and multiple noncompensable disabilities are dismissed. The Board also remanded the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected hypertension, as well as his claims for arthritis of various joints.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is denied as he does not have this condition.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, major depression disorder, anxiety disorder, insomnia) is denied. The Veteran submitted opinions from private doctors stating that he has these conditions, but the Board finds their opinions outweighed by other medical evidence of record and insufficient to establish a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and his STRs do not show any relevant symptoms. The VA examiner found that his diagnosed hearing loss is less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for a back disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right lower extremity nerve disorder, and left lower extremity nerve disorder are denied as the Veteran's STRs do not show any relevant symptoms. The VA examiner found that his diagnosed conditions are less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for a heart disorder (atrial fibrillation, bradycardia) is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and the VA examiners found that his atrial fibrillation is at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's STRs show he had a benign heart murmur at entrance to service.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity edema (right and left) is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and the VA examiners found that his diagnosed conditions are less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for hypertension prior to August 10, 2022 is denied. The Veteran's STRs show he had a benign heart murmur at entrance to service and the VA examiner found that his bradycardia is at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction prior to August 10, 2022 is denied. There is no in-service noise exposure documented and the Veteran's STRs show he had a benign heart murmur at entrance to service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. The claims for left and right lower extremity neuropathy are denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to February 13, 2020. The Board found that the evidence does not show he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected chronic kidney disease.,Service connection for hypothyroidism is granted due to exposure during service, not a preexisting condition.,Bilateral cataracts are denied as the evidence does not show they are related to service.

The Veteran's hypertension and obesity have non-compensable ratings, while her PTSD is rated at 50 percent. The Board has remanded the issues of a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU.,Obesity was granted as secondary to PTSD, but cannot be compensated under the schedule for rating disabilities.