Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hypertension is not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or greater, and the current rating for noncompensable (zero percent) disability under DC 7101 remains unchanged.

The Board has found that the RO's adjudication of the claims without obtaining VA examinations is a pre-decisional duty to assist error and requires remanding for further action, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and assistance, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's hypertension and ischemic heart disease are granted as presumptively related to his service in the Republic of Vietnam, with exposure to herbicide agents. The effective date is not assigned due to procedural reasons.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, OSA, hypertension, and hand disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection was not granted because the medical records do not show any current diagnoses or symptoms related to these conditions during or after his military service.

The Board has decided to remand all of the Veteran's claims due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ must obtain her complete service personnel records, including those related to her Pennsylvania National Guard service and verify all active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty of training (INACDUTRA) dates.

Service connection is granted for a bilateral foot condition and hypertension. The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension requires further examination to determine its relationship to service.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected PTSD, which contributed to the development of end-stage renal disease and coronary artery disease. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death but denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to lack of continuous total disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that it is not secondary to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and hypertensive heart disease/left ventricular hypertrophy.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further review due to unclear periods of service and the need for a VA opinion on whether his condition may be related to Agent Orange exposure during his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for vertigo and the initial rating claim for hypertension. The Board dismissed these claims as a result.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand. His unspecified depressive disorder and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are also granted, with the latter two conditions being presumed based on their association with diabetes mellitus.

Service connection for erectile dysfunction and hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Service connection for high cholesterol is denied. Service connection for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of erectile dysfunction and hypertension are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD, while the evidence does not support a finding that high cholesterol or tinnitus began during service.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as his blood pressure readings have not been predominantly 100 or more for diastolic pressure, or 160 or more for systolic pressure.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is remanded to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding its etiology and whether it is proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection. Service connection for muscle atrophy of the left and right quadriceps is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% disability rating for hypertension is denied as there was no factually ascertainable worsening of the condition within one year prior to November 16, 2020. The appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU is also denied due to lack of evidence showing a factual basis for such a claim.

The Veteran's hypertension, which was granted service connection for in January 2023 and rated noncompensable, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101 due to lack of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more.

The Veteran's PTSD and aortic stenosis post-heart valve replacement were denied increased ratings. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD most closely approximates occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relationships, judgment, thinking or mood. Service connection for frequent urination was remanded. A TDIU and SMC were granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are remanded due to inadequate examination reports. A new examination is needed to assess the severity of his back disability, determine if hypertension is secondary to his service-connected conditions, and evaluate the left hip condition.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and bilateral lower extremity varicose veins disabilities are found to be the primary causes of his claimed conditions, leading to grants of service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, and a reflux condition.