Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ulcers, migraines, mouth sores, body sores, fibromyalgia, chest pain, fatigue, joint pain and swelling, sinusitis (claimed as nose bleeds), shortness of breath, hemoptysis (coughing blood), hypertension, and memory loss. These issues are intertwined with the referred claim for service connection for Wegener's disease.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection for hypertension, increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and headache disabilities, and entitlement to a TDIU prior to April 9, 2018. The examination needed is due to potential toxic exposure under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted with a 10% rating. The VA has ordered remand for additional evaluations of his coronary artery disease, right knee, and right shoulder conditions due to the possibility of worsening during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The hypertension and tinnitus cases did not meet the criteria for higher ratings, while the migraine headaches claim was granted a 30 percent rating effective from June 7, 2021. The lumbar spine disability received a compensable rating.

The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for treatment purposes only for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, a sinus condition, and a heart condition due to the death of the Servicemember. The issue regarding whether the character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits has been remanded.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension has been granted.,The appeal for service connection for loss of vision, left eye and bilateral blurred vision has been granted.,The appeal for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral hips has been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, heart disorder, and GERD due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's reports of onset and symptoms in the previous VA opinion.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service connected due to onset during ACDUTRA. The Veteran's hypertension is denied as not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and headache disability have been granted. The claim for hypertension has been denied.,Service connection for the Veteran's headache disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and TBI.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, hypertension, and neuropathy of all extremities is granted. The claim for increased rating for tinnitus in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has found that the development conducted does not adequately comply with the September 2021 Board remand directives and thus, the case is being returned to the AOJ for further development regarding the Veteran's reported exposure to herbicides while stationed at Howard and Albrook Air Force Bases in Panama.

The Veteran's appeal for hypertension has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus service connection is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (mood disorder) is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of such a condition during or proximate to the pendency of the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis had its onset during his active service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.,The Board also granted service connection for migraine headaches, determining that the condition began during his deployment and is related to his active service.

The Veteran's hypertension, which was granted service connection for the first time on August 10, 2022, is rated at a 10 percent disability rating from that date. The condition has required continuous medication to control blood pressure throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as there is no basis for an earlier effective date prior to January 23, 2020.,The Veteran's eye disability and stroke disability claims are REMANDED due to the need for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for pancreatitis, a back condition, hypertension, a neck condition, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and heart disability due to service connection, as there are outstanding private medical records that need to be obtained and a new or addendum medical opinion is needed. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents, but dismissed the claims for hypothyroidism and readjudication of right and left foot disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected non-allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's right knee injury and limitation of flexion are dismissed due to a previous grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 10 percent for hypertension is granted, effective from the date of his August 15, 2022, claim to reopen. The Board found that he did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on current blood pressure readings.