Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, bilateral eye disorder, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicide agents during military service in the Korean DMZ. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right knee disability and its secondary effects on other joints and systems. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records, conduct additional development, and provide appropriate VA examinations as needed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder alone rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 25, 2015. Effective March 7, 2016, the Veteran was awarded SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his reported angina. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected hypertension, but also claims that his unstable angina should be considered secondary to his hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension and left carotid stenosis have been granted effective as of July 23, 2019.,All other issues on appeal are currently being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected hypertension, finding that his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation or higher at any point during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, sleep disorder, and neck pain as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.,Service records did not show any complaints, treatment, or diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension is granted on a facts-found, direct basis due to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, hypertension, hemorrhoids, hyperlipidemia, and a back condition have been denied as the evidence does not support a relationship to service.,Service connection is denied for all claimed conditions due to lack of in-service event or injury, no continuity of symptomatology, and insufficient medical evidence linking any current disability to service.

The Board has vacated its decision regarding the rating assigned for diabetes mellitus, type II. The issues of secondary service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during service, and therefore, his claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; diabetic nephropathy; Parkinsonism; and hypertension are denied as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in the March 2023 rating decision. The August 2023 rating decision found no new and relevant evidence since the March 2023 denial to warrant readjudication.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the ratings of traumatic deviated nasal septum, GERD, and hypertension. The claims are dismissed.

The Board has granted effective dates of March 30, 2021 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, CAD, bronchitis, and hypertension. The effective date is based on the date each claim was first raised by the Veteran.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent initial rating.,ED and acanthosis nigricans are both denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable initial rating.,Acanthosis nigricans is assigned a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board granted a Level 2 stipend in the PCAFC program for the Veteran due to his need for continuous supervision, protection, or instruction as determined by the April 2023 VFAI evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection and increased rating, as well as earlier effective date issues. The Board finds pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the current record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will consider the evidence of record at the time of the November 2020 rating decision.

The Board has found that there is not substantial compliance with the most recent remand directives and has decided to remand the case for further action, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and requesting a medical opinion regarding the service connection claim for hypertension.