Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 30, 2018 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 30, 2018 for a higher rating for back disability is denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 30, 2018 for bilateral hip limitation of flexion and right ankle disability are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 30, 2018 for a higher rating for left hip limitation of flexion is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 12, 2015 for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act presumption of service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC based on housebound status are granted due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, PTSD, and other conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or incident that could be linked to her current disability.,The Board also remanded several issues related to heart conditions and associated symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain. The primary issue is whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues related to his bilateral hip disability, hypertension, and lumbar spine disability. The effective date of a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability is set at May 3, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II, contributed to his cause of death. The decision grants service connection for the cause of death due to secondary aggravation by these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for eczema, hypertension secondary to PTSD, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for asthma, hypertension, plantar fasciitis, emphysema, GERD, and hyperlipidemia. The claim for service connection for COPD was reopened but denied due to lack of causal relationship with service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including those related to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and sickle cell trait, are denied as there is no current diagnosis of a respiratory condition. The claim for service connection for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is also denied due to its congenital nature.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and skin cancer are all granted. The case is remanded to consider the claim for skin cancer due to exposure to an herbicide agent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations. The appeals for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, tongue cancer, acoustic neuroma, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) will be addressed further.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to outstanding medical records, including those from private providers. The VA is also requested to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the criteria for a compensable evaluation were not met at any time during the periods of appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted a 10 percent rating prior to March 10, 2020, and denied any higher rating thereafter.,Service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) is denied.,Service connection for headaches is denied.,Service connection for hypertension is denied.,Service connection for left testicle condition is denied.,Service connection for right thumb condition is denied.,The claim to reopen the service connection for hearing loss was denied as no new and material evidence was received.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The Board will address his increased rating claims from October 2015 onwards.

The Veteran's hypertension and heart condition are granted service connection due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for the heart condition is secondary to the service-connected hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents during active service, as per the PACT Act.

The petition to reopen the previously disallowed claims for low back disability and depression is granted. The issues of service connection for intervertebral foramina, non-specific osteoarthritis, lumbar post-laminectomy syndrome, connective tissue disc stenosis, abdominal pain, GERD, chronic pancreatitis, foot pain, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder and MDD), suicidal thoughts, insomnia, and tobacco use disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and to provide an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's HTN. The issues of initial disability ratings for MDD and TDIU prior to August 2, 2016 are also on appeal.

The Veteran's kidney disorder claim is denied as there is no current disability.,For the period from April 14, 2016 to April 14, 2023, the service-connected hypertension was rated at 50 percent. From April 14, 2023 onwards, it was rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as there is no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or a minimum evaluation for an individual with a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more who requires continuous medication for control.,The Veteran's heart disorder claim is remanded as the VA examiner needs to provide opinions on service connection and aggravation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, low back disability, and high blood pressure. The Board found no evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.