Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is etiologically related to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to May 22, 2014 is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence addressing aggravation.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to comply with the PACT Act and to have the RO consider the Veteran's claims under both a direct, and TERA basis.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to the need for additional VA examinations and the need to obtain certain medical records. The Veteran's claims include various symptoms such as sleep apnea, hypertension, heart disability, joint pain, kidney issues, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and headaches due to incomplete records. The Veteran is required to provide information about private treatment providers who have treated him since 2008, including a cardiologist at P Hospital, his primary care provider at PC Physicians Group, and hospitals where he received treatment.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals regarding service connection and increased disability rating for hypertension, sleep apnea, PTSD, anxiety disorder, sinus headaches, and migraine headaches. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for hypertension or an abdominal scar, and there was no clear evidence of radiculopathy warranting separate ratings.

The Veteran's hypertension and end stage renal disease are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension is denied. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hypertension is also denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable due to diastolic pressure never being predominantly 100 or more, and systolic pressure never being predominantly 160 or more. The current rating of zero percent adequately reflects the Veteran's disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, but remanded to determine if it is related to in-service herbicide exposure or other conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his diastolic pressure was consistently below 100mm and systolic pressure was consistently below 160mm, thus preventing him from qualifying for a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records of his reserve service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypothyroidism, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The appellant's in-service exposure to herbicide agents is suspected but not verified. A TERA examination will be scheduled if verification of exposure occurs.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during service and concluding that the condition is not related to military service.

The Board has reopened the claims for chronic kidney disease and hypertension, but these issues are being remanded to the AOJ for further adjudication.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for service-connected hypertension was denied as his diastolic and systolic blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and obesity, as well as whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is now presumed to be associated with his exposure to herbicide agents under the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022. The Board has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding whether service connection should be granted before this date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for the conditions listed, with presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.