Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right hand disability, left hand disability, and hypertension were denied. The claim for lumbar spine disability was reopened but not granted. Service connection was granted for obstructive sleep apnea as aggravated by service-connected persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran did not have a chronic condition during or within one year after service and there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The claim for hypertension was also denied as it preexisted service.,Service connection could not be established based on direct service incurrence because the Veteran did not show a chronic disability in service, nor did he demonstrate continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for hypertension, hypothyroidism, carpal tunnel syndrome, tuberculosis, bilateral pes planus, and hyperlipidemia are all granted.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension, as it may be secondary to a service-connected heart disability. The RO should obtain an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if hypertension is proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected heart disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for depression is granted, with the effective date being April 12, 2017. The current disability rating for depression has been increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as well as hypertension have been granted. The claim for hypertension is granted pursuant to the PACT Act. The issue of a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete service medical records. The Veteran's active duty and Army Reserve service are acknowledged, but further efforts must be made to obtain his complete service medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction, back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, hypertension, bladder incontinence, and headaches due to insufficient rationale provided by the VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hypertension, left hand disability, right hand disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and right shoulder disability due to additional evidentiary development. The Veteran's service treatment records show multiple injuries during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for hypertension, acid reflux disease, and COPD as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has denied service connection for anxiety and mood swings, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, heart disorder, erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinusitis and rhinitis, right eye cataracts, left eye cataracts, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Board found no in-service psychological injury or event leading to the current disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent) under Diagnostic Code 7101. The Board finds the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and thus denies the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder) and denied the increased disability rating claim for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lymphoma leukemia and a heart disability, to include a heart attack, are denied.,Service connection for hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act.

Service connection for hypertension is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. Service connection for heart disorder and skin disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for left foot disability, migraine headaches, hypertension, and stomach ulcers due to a lack of an adequate etiology opinion. The Veteran's current disabilities are being remanded for new VA examinations and medical opinions regarding whether they are related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs).

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as the Veteran is deceased.

The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's prostate cancer is not granted due to lack of exposure to herbicides.