Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction and hypertension service connection due to their inextricably intertwined nature. The hypertension claim is currently pending before the Court, so the erectile dysfunction claim must be remanded as well.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability and the service connection for sleep apnea are remanded. The claim for a separate disability other than PTSD with depression manifested by short-term memory loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected conditions, including hypertension, PTSD, ataxia (claimed as chronic pain), peripheral neuropathy and restless leg syndrome, bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be due to in-service herbicide exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted based on the PACT Act.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 9, 2021.

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 a higher evaluation.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension is dismissed. The Veteran's bilateral eye condition, including keratoconus and glaucoma, is granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for the PTSD rating is denied as a matter of law. The claims for arthritis of the cervical spine and bilateral pes planus are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and anemia as these conditions were not shown to be related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension, left ear hearing loss, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability are all dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's high blood pressure during active duty and post-service diagnosis is related to his military service.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for asbestosis and hypertension, but has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension secondary to asbestosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's in-service traumatic brain injury and its relationship to his current conditions.

The appeal for an effective date prior to August 10, 2022 for the grant of service connection for hypertension is dismissed as it was previously adjudicated by the Board in June 2023 and has not been appealed to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).

The Board denied the claim for service connection of hypertension, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between the condition and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to conflicting evidence regarding the onset and causation of his claimed disabilities. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and medical opinions regarding whether hypertension is proximately due or aggravated by a service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied service connection for a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to his in-service herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. The lung disability issue remains pending and will be remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service in Vietnam and has granted service connection based on the PACT Act. However, further development is needed as the October 2021 VA examination is inadequate.