Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused his hypertension, which in turn led to chronic kidney disease. The Veteran was also granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities.,Service connection has been established for the cause of the Veteran's death as it is considered attributable to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension. The issues of service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to other specified trauma-related disorder and hypertension secondary to other specified trauma-related disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has reinstated the Veteran's claims for service connection for alcohol and substance abuse, and hypertension due to showing good cause why his substantive appeal was not timely filed.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to her service-connected anxiety disorder. The appeals for joint pain and joint tingling have been dismissed.

The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is dismissed.,The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for scars, status post prostatectomy and lymph node dissection is dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for heart disease is dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for lipoma is dismissed.,Tinnitus has been granted as service connected.,Hypertension has been granted as service connected due to the PACT Act.

Your appeals for service connection for a low back disorder and hypertension have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The appeal does not survive his passing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for vision loss, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder (arthritis to the entire joint system), obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension (claimed as Gulf War Syndrome), erectile dysfunction, and skin disorder due to new evidence added to his claims file.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted an initial 10 percent rating.,For the period prior to February 20, 2020, the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted a 10 percent rating.,Since February 20, 2020, the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis has been denied any increase in rating beyond the initial 10 percent assigned.,The claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. His claim for presumptive service connection for hypertension as due to exposure to herbicide agents is also granted, with the PACT Act being applied.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted, attributed to in-service acoustic trauma exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right lower extremity knee and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, together with organic diseases such as coronary artery disease, sinusitis, and hypertension, result in the loss of use of one lower extremity and affect balance and propulsion. The Board grants entitlement to specially adapted housing but dismisses the claim for a special home adaptation grant.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, heart disorder, respiratory disorder, and residuals of a stroke as secondary to the Veteran's hypertension. The claims were not granted due to lack of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's hypertension was not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more during the appeal period, thus no compensable rating is warranted.,The Veteran's left hand fracture/long finger disability did not result in a gap of one inch (2.5 cm) or more between the fingertip and the proximal transverse crease of the palm with the finger flexed to the extent possible; nor was there limitation of extension limited by no more than 30 degrees, thus no compensable rating is warranted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be established as the Veteran did not have a current disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,Service connection for a left hip disability cannot be established as the Veteran did not have a current disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,Service connection for a left wrist joint pain (not service-connected) cannot be established as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for right testicular mass cannot be established as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for contact dermatitis (legs, face, neck) cannot be established as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the genitourinary disability issue during a hearing before the Board. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded.

The Board dismissed the claims of right upper extremity numbness, diabetes mellitus, type II, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss for accrued benefits purposes.,Service connection was granted for kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) due to radiation exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and right shoulder degenerative joint disease have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted.,Service connection has also been granted for headaches with very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hypertension as a result of treatment with prednisone at the VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, Indiana in August and September 2006.,The Board also denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for erectile dysfunction, vision disorder (glaucoma), peripheral vascular disease (arterial insufficiency and femoral artery bypass), and nerve damage lower extremities as secondary to hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and respiratory disorder was denied. For bilateral hearing loss, the Board found that a compensable rating is not warranted based on VA audiological evaluations conducted in August 2015, August 2016, and January 2023. For respiratory disorder (Pulmonary Hypertension), the Veteran's claim was denied as there was no clear etiology for his disease due to lack of objective findings supporting asbestos exposure or other potential causes.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to full grants of other issues on appeal, including hypertension and bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy. The claim for TDIU was also dismissed as the evaluation for congestive heart failure associated with diabetes mellitus type II with hypertension rendered it moot.