Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disability and hypertension due to challenges regarding the competency of the VA examiner who provided the most recent medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic meibomian gland, ocular hypertension, and headaches (migraine headaches) due to inadequate VA examination. The issues of a compensable disability rating for bilateral cataracts are also inextricably intertwined with these claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and hypertension are granted as service-connected due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The case is remanded for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of hypertension is denied, and the issue of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to his service-connected hypertension is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of your claim for service connection for hypertension as the appellant's authorized representative withdrew his appeal before a decision was made.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability and associated sleep apnea.

The Veteran's hypertension, BPH, skin cancer, and COPD are granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act.

The Board found that the Veteran is currently employed as a police officer, which means he cannot meet the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted an initial 10 percent rating effective September 29, 2017.,Service connection for the lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, and hypertension have all been granted with effective dates of September 29, 2017.,Service connection for a left knee disability has not been established.,Service connection for a right knee disability has not been established.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (social anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) has been granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and glaucoma have been denied. The Board found that OSA is not related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,Service connection for OSA was granted based on the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees is rated at 10 percent each, with a separate rating for limitation of extension in both knees. The Veteran's hypertension is not compensably disabling.,A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right knee and left knee was denied.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart condition, to include coronary artery disease (CAD), on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension manifested during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA), and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

Service connection is denied for hypertension, basal cell carcinoma, neck disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. Service connection is granted for tension headaches and lower lip numbness associated with the service-connected chin scar.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection. The claims for blurred vision, right and left shoulder disabilities, right and left hand disabilities, periodontal disease, bilateral pes planus, unequal leg length, erectile dysfunction, hemorrhoids, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), allergic rhinitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and bilateral elbow and wrist scars were all denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further development. Specifically, the VA needs to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam, provide a new examination to address the medical nexus between hepatitis C and hypertension, and clarify the nature of any other conditions claimed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to additional evidence received since the July 2023 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection claims have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and addendum opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the need for a new evaluation considering his service-connected disabilities.