Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10% rating from June 26, 2013. A 60% rating for the right knee disability is granted starting September 1, 2020. The Veteran's prior claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the PACT Act, which requires a medical nexus opinion and examination if a Veteran submits a claim for compensation for a service-connected disability under section 1110 with evidence of participation in toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) during service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder (claimed as a back condition) is granted service connection. The issues of service connection for left and right elbow disorders, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and bladder incontinence are remanded due to the need for additional VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension has not met the criteria for a higher rating.,There is no evidence of diagnosed bilateral shoulder, low back, left wrist, or knee disabilities. The lung condition and cardiovascular disability are also not supported by evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for hypertension has been dismissed as the claim was granted in a November 2023 rating decision.,The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10% and no higher, based on current symptoms and VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disorder is reopened and granted. The claims for residuals of TBI, bilateral eye disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral foot disorder are denied. Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral shoulder disorder, MDD, and hypertension are also denied.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and therefore he did not meet the criteria for non-service-connected burial benefits. The claims were denied as there was no evidence of a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty at the time of discharge.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with obtaining medical records and ensuring compliance with prior orders. The AOJ is instructed to obtain missing records from Grossmont Hospital, prepare an addendum report addressing hypertension and blood clots, and ensure all opinions comply with instructions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection can be adjudicated on the merits. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim, hypertension claim, erectile dysfunction claim, lower back condition claim, migraine headaches claim, right knee condition claim, and left knee condition claim are all being remanded.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for skin rash, headaches, bilateral knee disabilities, and plantar fasciitis have been denied. The request to reopen these claims has been granted.,The Veteran's previously denied claim for sleep apnea has been reopened and is now considered granted. The previously denied claim for hypertension has also been reopened and is now considered granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for hypertension, including addressing instances of high blood pressure in service and any increase in severity during active duty. Additionally, a secondary service connection claim is also being addressed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic right shoulder condition in service or continuity of symptomatology since service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a traumatic injury to his right shoulder during service.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to an incomplete understanding of the relevant medical history, specifically regarding elevated blood pressure readings documented during service.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of service connection for a left foot condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, have prevented him from securing or maintaining gainful employment throughout the appeal period. The Board has granted a TDIU based on his combined disability rating of 90 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional evidence, including medical records from private providers and former employers.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic retinopathy, and hypertension due to new evidence received since the March 2014 rating decision. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc and joint disease, diabetes mellitus, and brain tumor is remanded due to the need for further development regarding her exposure history.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence linking his current diagnosis to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied because there is no evidence of an in-service incurrence or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to PTSD, is denied due to lack of evidence establishing the in-service incurrence and nexus elements.