Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to a lack of rationale in the previous VA medical opinion, which may affect the determination of whether his hypertension is related to his military service and exposure to toxic risk activities.

The Board has identified errors in the previous decisions and is remanding the case to allow for further review of the service connection claims for hypertension and heart murmur.

The Veteran's peripheral arterial disease and thrombophlebitis deep vessels of the lower extremities are granted as secondary to service-connected hypertension.,Hypertension is granted with an effective date of August 12, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension was denied, and his appeal for a 10 percent evaluation based upon multiple, noncompensable, service-connected disabilities was dismissed due to withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new medical opinions being needed on whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability caused or aggravated his claimed conditions, including CAD, hypertension, OSA, pancreatic cyst, lumbar spine disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, peripheral vascular disease, testosterone deficiency, colon disorder, and foot disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a pulmonary disorder, to include asthma, is granted under the PACT Act. Service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal because there was no decision on the issue of whether new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate a claim for service connection for hypertension.

The appeal for earlier effective dates for diabetes mellitus type 2 with erectile dysfunction, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, macular edema and retinal scarring due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, status post panretinal photocoagulation, both eyes, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is dismissed.,The appeal for earlier effective dates for diabetes mellitus type 2 with erectile dysfunction, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, macular edema and retinal scarring due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, status post panretinal photocoagulation, both eyes, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is dismissed.,The appeal for earlier effective dates for diabetes mellitus type 2 with erectile dysfunction, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, macular edema and retinal scarring due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, status post panretinal photocoagulation, both eyes, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is dismissed.,The appeal for earlier effective dates for diabetes mellitus type 2 with erectile dysfunction, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, macular edema and retinal scarring due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, status post panretinal photocoagulation, both eyes, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is dismissed.,The appeal for earlier effective dates for diabetes mellitus type 2 with erectile dysfunction, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, macular edema and retinal scarring due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, status post panretinal photocoagulation, both eyes, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a compensable rating for hypertension before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's heart condition and hypertension were not incurred during active service, nor are they related to his service. The Board denied these claims.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was also not incurred during active service, nor is it related to his service. The Board denied this claim as well.

The Veteran's hypertension, which is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, substantially and materially contributed to his death. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's hypertension prior to February 7, 2019 is denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's hypertension from February 7, 2019 onwards is also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating, as his diastolic pressure has never been predominantly 100 or more and he requires no continuous medication.,The Veteran's chronic kidney disease does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating, as it has not resulted in constant or recurring albumin with hyaline and granular casts or red blood cells.,There is no legal basis to assign a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches is granted as of February 3, 2017.,The Veteran's eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is also granted as of February 3, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal during the hearing.,Service connection for OSA and HTN were granted, with OSA being secondary to TBI and right knee disability with obesity as an intermediate step.

The appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for hypertension is granted on a direct basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for HTN and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a kidney condition were denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if she has a current diagnosis of hypertension and whether it is related to her military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, a left-hand disability, and a neck disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's hypertension and renal disease, including manifestations of anemia, are granted for accrued benefits purposes as they were caused by events during his active-duty military service.