Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for anemia was withdrawn during a hearing. The Board has dismissed the issue and remanded the remaining claims: obstructive sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction.

Service connection for hypertension is granted due to the PACT Act of 2022, which added hypertension as a presumptive condition associated with herbicide exposure. The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied service connection for sinus disorder, peripheral artery disease (also claimed as bilateral leg cramps), hypertension, and heart disorder.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or chronic condition related to these disorders that can be linked to military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension as due to exposure to herbicide agents during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disability. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, finding that there was no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected disabilities based on new and material evidence, including a statement from the Veteran in April 2017. The case is remanded for further examination to determine if the hypertension is caused or aggravated by service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and hypertension has been granted. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's service in the Air Force Reserves and a TERA examination for hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension effective August 10, 2022, due to the PACT Act. However, the issue of whether the Veteran is entitled to service connection for hypertension prior to this date remains unresolved and requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's valve replacement surgery and its residuals, including surgical scars, are caused or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease. The VA examiner is requested to provide a rationale for their conclusions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and TDIU based on ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and other service-connected conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that his OSA was directly related to service or secondary to any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that symptoms of the congenital disease did not start to manifest during service and that any increase in disability during service was due to the natural progress of the preexisting condition. The claims are also remanded for adjudication.

Service connection for a heart disorder, to include hypertension and supraventricular arrhythmia is granted pursuant to the PACT Act. Service connection for asthma, to include as due to herbicide exposure, is remanded. Service connection for a heart disorder, to include hypertension and supraventricular arrhythmia on a basis other than as pursuant to the PACT Act, is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and vertigo as secondary to service-connected PTSD and TBI due to new evidence being added to the file.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and GERD are being remanded for further evaluation due to the PACT Act.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hypertension was dismissed because he withdrew the appeal in July 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hypertension due to new evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and valvular heart disease for further development, including obtaining VA opinions to address whether these conditions are related to service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or due to military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable, as the evidence does not show diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more.,Service connection for gastrointestinal symptoms is denied because they are attributed to a known clinical diagnosis of GERD.

The Veteran's back disability was aggravated by his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.,The Veteran's headache disability was caused by his service-connected tinnitus.