Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The ratings for his left and right knee scars, as well as the rating for his right knee disability, are denied prior to August 25, 2022. The claims for secondary service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder), and a gallbladder disability are remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to exposure to herbicide agents during service, based on the PACT Act.

The Veteran's hypertension is not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or a history thereof, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more. Therefore, the criteria for a compensable rating are not met.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension have been granted. Hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act.,Service connection has also been established for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, cataracts as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence of his employment history and income levels, despite meeting the criteria for TDIU. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the threshold minimum requirements for TDIU as he was unable to provide specific information about his educational and occupational background.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports, incomplete medical records, and procedural issues.,VA will attempt to obtain additional medical records from private providers and issue a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's representative did not receive a timely copy of the March 2020 Statement of the Case (SOC) concerning the earlier effective date claims for various conditions. The appeals are being remanded to issue a SOC on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, hypertension, aneurysm and residuals secondary to hypertension, and psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to issues with obtaining SSA records and addressing conflicting medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and TDIU have been dismissed due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of all pending appeals.

The Board has granted the reopening of the previously denied claims for service connection for fatigue disability and hypertension. The claim for fatigue disability remains denied, while the claim for hypertension is now considered reopened.

The Veteran's service connection claims for poor vision, right fifth finger disability, and left ear hearing loss have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions during or after service.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), allergies, heart rhythm, and hypertension has been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's migraines are now rated at 50% effective September 23, 2016. The Board also granted TDIU from September 23, 2016 due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiners. The Veteran's current diagnoses include COPD, HTN, heart valve replacement (prosthesis), aortic stenosis, atrial fibrillation, and OSA. The issues are related to his military service.

The Board has vacated its previous remand decisions and is now remanding the claims for increased evaluations of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, onychomycosis, and erectile dysfunction. The AOJ must ensure that separate compensable ratings are assigned if appropriate.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension (HTN) as there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation, and the current condition is not related to active service.,Service connection for a back condition was also denied. The examiner found that the Veteran's back disability did not have its onset during service and was less likely caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune (CWCL).,Barrett's esophagus was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disease shown in service, nor any link to active service or exposure to CWCL.

Hypertension and generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder have been granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active service. Dyslipidemia has not been granted as a disability for which VA benefits may be awarded.,The Veteran's thyroid disability, heart disability (claimed as related to herbicide agent exposure), recurrent cervical spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, ankle, foot disabilities, gout, kidney disability, scrotum cyst, sleep apnea, and vertigo have been remanded for further review. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to January 28, 2022, and in excess of 50 percent from January 28, 2022, to June 1, 2022, for migraine including migraine variants has also been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the absence of a current disability. The claims for chronic left knee pain, chronic right knee pain, left foot plantar fasciitis, and hypertension are remanded as there is insufficient medical evidence addressing their etiology.

The Board dismissed the appeals for ratings in excess of 10 percent, 20 percent, and 40 percent for hypertension, adult-onset diabetes with erectile dysfunction and mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, and voiding dysfunction respectively due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, leading to the grant of a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for bradycardia and hypertension, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions and insufficient evidence to establish exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's service.