Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for nephrology, apocrine hidrocystoma of the left eyelid and nose, diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's compensable rating claim for apocrine hidrocystoma of the left eyelid and nose is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected hypertension associated with herbicide exposure is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA must obtain any outstanding VA and private treatment records related to the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed. He was granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand five issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including prostate condition, hypertension, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction (secondary to hypertension), and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ. The AOJ is required to obtain VA treatment records prior to October 25, 2008, Reserve service treatment and personnel records, and an additional VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's prostate condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for hypertension and a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD, but granted an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension. The claim for increased GERD was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension was denied, and his claim for service connection for headaches as secondary to his service-connected hypertension was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more due to medication control, and there were no records indicating headaches associated with his hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected. The issue of residuals of brain aneurysms is remanded due to duty to assist errors.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of shortness of breath, hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, or OSA. The claims for these conditions are being remanded due to procedural and evidentiary issues.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension was dismissed because the VA Form 10182 was not filed within the required one-year period following the October 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and hypertension have been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for service-connected hypertension, finding that the Veteran's diastolic blood pressure was predominantly at or above 100 and required continuous medication to control it. The criteria for a higher 20 percent rating are not met due to insufficient evidence of diastolic readings at or above 110.

The Veteran's migraines and hypertension have been granted initial ratings of 50% and 10%, respectively. The TDIU claim has been denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for an abnormal lung issue, and service connection for hypertension.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no service connection is granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents, and the issue of an initial compensable rating for Crohn's disease is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence supporting this conclusion.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension is being remanded due to a failure to notify him about relevant private treatment records.

The Board has dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted due to new evidence submitted, including the passage of the PACT Act. The appeals are granted.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, hypertension (HTN), panic disorder without agoraphobia, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to procedural errors in how they were docketed under the Appeals Modernization Act.