Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for higher and/or separate ratings for residuals of a stroke associated with hypertension has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew from the appeal.

Service connection for bilateral feet pain to include flat feet, a cervical spine/neck disability, a low back disability, a left shoulder disability, diverticulosis, and hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, a heart condition, and muscle weakness (claimed as strokes and stroke residuals). The case is remanded to determine the nature and etiology of bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and associated diabetic peripheral neuropathy are granted due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand as provided by the PACT Act.

The Veteran's hypertension is manifested by systolic pressures predominantly less than 160 and diastolic pressures less than 100; the Veteran requires continuous medication to control his hypertension. The appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension is denied.,The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of in-service audiometric data under both ASA and ISO-ANSI standards, requiring additional examination.,The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for stroke residuals is remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not related to active service, including exposure to herbicides.,The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for skin cancer is remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not related to active service, including exposure to herbicides.,The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include posttraumatic stress disorder) is remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to a pre-decisional duty to assist omission regarding the Veteran's theory of exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hypertension may be related to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, and thus remands for a medical opinion on whether it was caused or aggravated by this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment. A 70 percent rating is granted for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date earlier than August 10, 2022 for the grant of service connection for hypertension is dismissed. The claim for increased ratings for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea are denied. A TDIU is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his active duty service. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal regarding diabetes mellitus (DM) is dismissed. The appeals for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and hypertension are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, back disorder, and hypertension. The Veteran's bilateral foot condition (shin splints) and vision/eye condition were not addressed in the decision.,Service connection was remanded for coronary artery disease, left leg angioplasty, right leg angioplasty, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his neck and back conditions, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and diabetic neuropathy, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, and hypertension are granted as they are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during his active duty in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension to obtain additional evidence and provide a new VA examination. The appellant seeks service connection for these conditions on a direct basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), colon cancer, and liver cancer due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Board found that these conditions are not disabilities for which VA compensation benefits can be awarded.

The Veteran's hypertension has not been found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his blood pressure readings have consistently shown diastolic pressures below 100 and systolic pressures below 160. The Board denied the claim of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, GERD, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as he has not provided a VA Form 21-8940, and his employment status is unclear. The Board cannot evaluate the economic and noneconomic components of the substantially gainful employment standard.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, kidney cancer, and removal of the right kidney due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.