Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for coronary artery bypass grafting x4 and hypertension. The right ankle disorder and left ankle disorder are remanded, while the right foot disorder is also remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to procedural errors in docketing under the AMA system.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disability (hypertension), and prostate disability are remanded due to the need for further examination regarding potential exposure to toxins during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and low back arthritis are all granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology during or shortly after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension likely began during his active duty service and continues to this day, granting service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes is found to be related to his current diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and hypertension. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension, PTSD, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathies were granted service connection. The PTSD rating was reduced from 70% to 30%, effective July 1, 2020, for reasons related to the reduction process. Higher ratings for some of his disabilities were also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism was dismissed as the RO granted it in a prior decision.,Service connection for hypertension is granted from August 10, 2022, under provisions of the PACT Act. The claim for hypertension before that date remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating required by Diagnostic Code 7101. The evidence does not show diastolic pressure of predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure of predominantly 160 or more.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney disease, trigeminal neuralgia pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), right lower peripheral neuropathy, left lower peripheral neuropathy, right peripheral vascular disease, left peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, heart condition, and hypertension are being remanded due to the Veteran missing his VA examinations.,The Board finds that the Veteran presented good cause for having missed his appointments and therefore, the claims must be remanded to afford the Veteran adequate examinations and medical opinions regarding these disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating required by Diagnostic Code 7101. The evidence does not show diastolic pressure of predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure of predominantly 160 or more.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Camp Lejeune water contamination issues, Gulf War syndrome, and sleep apnea have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is proximately due to his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, which he contends was aggravated by his hypertension. As such, the claim for secondary service connection for ED is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, hypertension, obesity, sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus, left foot bunion, right foot bunion, left ankle disability (claimed as achilles tendonitis), left knee disability, right knee disability, left hand disability, right hand disability, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability due to incomplete military records.

The Veteran's death was caused by in-service toxic exposures at Fort Dix and Fort Liberty, which are linked to liver neoplasm, heart disease, and hypertension. The Board granted service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD and the claim for service connection based on agent orange are dismissed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and missing military personnel records.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to new evidence received since the final December 2015 rating decision. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder are denied as there is no current disability at any point during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for a right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and an inconsistent examination report, requiring further evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.