Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hypertension has not been manifested by systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more for any period prior to July 6, 2020. As a result, the claim for a compensable disability rating is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee strain and a compensable rating for hypertension due to his failure to appear for VA examinations, and because there was no evidence showing that his current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Korea, which is presumed due to his service-connected DM.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, including hypertension and cardiomegaly, finding no current disability that would support a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received. The hypertension claim is granted on a direct basis due to herbicide exposure during service. The gastrointestinal disorder claim remains pending as additional VA records are needed and an addendum opinion is required. Secondary service connection issues are also raised for seizures, lipoma, and brain cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the disability began during active service and is related to it.

The Veteran's appeal for pneumonia was dismissed. The claim for asthma was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted, but the claim for sleep apnea was reopened and granted due to a change in law (PACT Act). The hypertension claim remains denied. Allergic rhinitis is now service-connected.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has been found related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and an eye disability due to new evidence added to the record since previous decisions. The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension is being reviewed de novo as new and material evidence was submitted. Eye disabilities are also being remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and hypertension due to insufficient evidence of a service connection. The Veteran's exposure during active service is being considered under the PACT Act, which requires VA to provide a medical examination and secure a medical nexus opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to in-service herbicide exposure. The cases of sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence showing a disability attributable to service that would have warranted service connection if sought before death.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), right foot diabetic neuropathy, and left foot diabetic neuropathy has been denied.,The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to the grant of service connection in a previous decision.

The Veteran is granted TDIU from March 6, 2017 to March 19, 2021 due to service-connected disabilities. He is also granted SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart condition, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. The decision also acknowledges that the Veteran's PTSD may have contributed to his heart conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, CAD, diabetes mellitus type II, and related peripheral neuropathy have been granted. Erectile dysfunction is also service-connected.,Additional issues of service connection for depression and PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of hypertension was denied as the grant was based on a change in the law, specifically the passing of the PACT Act.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected hypertension was also denied due to stable symptomatology throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease and hypertension due to herbicide exposure are granted. Claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; peripheral neuropathy of the upper/lower extremities; ankle/hip/knee disorders; and cervical/thoracolumbar spine disorders are denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted with a 10% rating, but no higher. The claim for service connection for head and face cancer is remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 12, 2021 for the award of service connection for hypertension. However, the matter of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for hypertension is remanded.