Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that a TERA examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected Gulf War exposure. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and denied increased ratings for right knee disability (prior to April 15, 2019) and left knee disability. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for instability of the knees and TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and lumbosacral strain due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's abdominal cramps, hypertension, hemorrhoids, and scars from hernia surgery are being remanded for further development as requested by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, vision problems, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to service connection. The Veteran's high cholesterol is considered a laboratory finding and not a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hand arthritis, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with spinal canal stenosis have been granted service connection.,An increased disability rating for residuals of prostate cancer and bladder cancer has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to the complexity of the issues.,No new or material evidence was presented, so no changes in rating were granted.

The claims of service connection for sleep apnea, low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, arthritis (bilateral hands and knees), acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD with depression), and hypertension have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II (DM II) is secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The examiner needs to provide a clear opinion on this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in a May 2022 VA opinion regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is secondary to service-connected disabilities including diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. The AOJ needs to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether these conditions caused or aggravated the Veteran's obesity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, and if so, whether it began during active service or within one year after discharge.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension was granted. From August 1, 2017 onwards, a rating of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes and hypertension, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and hypertension due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran contends that he developed these conditions during service, but there is evidence suggesting they may have existed prior to his entry into active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral ankle disability, and left knee disability due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The right knee arthritis and limitation of extension claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claims for cervical spine disability and hypertension has been granted. The claim of service connection for a right knee condition as secondary to service-connected back is remanded, and the claim of service connection for a left knee condition as secondary to service-connected back is also remanded.,Service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected back is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, PTSD, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension has not been granted earlier than July 5, 2017.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connection pursuant to the PACT Act. The claim for tinea pedis, onychomycosis of the bilateral feet (previously evaluated as dermatophytosis), prior to October 23, 2020 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability. The cases of hypertension and thyroid disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial rating for service-connected migraine headaches has been granted at a 30 percent level, effective August 1, 2015. The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable.

The Veteran's hypertension, which consistently showed systolic pressure of 160 or more during the appeal period, is granted an initial rating of 10 percent from June 8, 2017, to July 18, 2019.