Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

Service connection for PTSD is granted.,Service connection for hypertension, effective August 10, 2022, is granted. The claim period prior to this date remains unresolved and requires further examination and consideration.

Service connection for cervical cord compression is denied.,Service connection for sinusitis as secondary to service-connected migraines is granted. An increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating.

The Board granted service connection for back, right knee, left knee, and right hip disorders, but denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, hypertension, coccyx disorder, and hearing loss in both ears. The appeal was also remanded for further action on several other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lung disability, including pulmonary hypertension. The examiner is instructed to consider all in-service exposures, including herbicide agents, asbestos, diesel fuel and fumes, ship exhaust, solvents, and/or lubricants.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for peripheral vestibular disorder and hypertension due to conflicting medical evidence regarding diagnoses and potential service connection. The case is returned to the RO for further examination and opinion from specialists.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a skin condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's earlier effective date claims for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, right lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy have been remanded due to the need for further action.,For hypertension, an earlier effective date is denied as it predates the Veteran's initial claim on October 1, 2022.,For obstructive sleep apnea, an earlier effective date is denied as it predates the Veteran's intent to file a claim in May 2016.,For diabetes mellitus, type II, an earlier effective date is denied as it predates the Veteran's initial claim on September 20, 2011.,For diabetic nephropathy, an earlier effective date is denied as it predates December 18, 2017 when entitlement first arose.,For right lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy and left lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy, earlier effective dates are remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically regarding incomplete military personnel and medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hypertension is remanded due to an error in the duty to assist.

The appeal for service connection for hypertensive vascular disease (also claimed as hypertension) is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for Parkinson's disease due to new and relevant evidence. The TDIU claim is denied as there are no service-connected disabilities meeting the schedular requirements, and the appellant is not unemployable by reason of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee condition has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board is remanding this issue for further development. Additionally, earlier effective dates are being sought for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits.

The Veteran's OSA is rated as noncompensable prior to May 20, 2013 and as 50 percent disabling thereafter. The rating for hypertension was granted effective April 21, 2015 at a 10% level. The rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress remains at 70%. An effective date of January 13, 2011 is granted for TDIU, DEA benefits, and SMC.

The Veteran's hypertension, which required continuous medication for control and had systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, is granted an initial 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected disabilities and related treatment and medication is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran's symptoms have not reached a level of considerable or severe impairment of health.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for erectile dysfunction or hypertension, and therefore these claims are denied. The remaining issues of service connection for various foot and hip disorders, as well as left knee scar, are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to a lack of supporting documentation.

The Veteran's hypertension is associated with non-VA treatment records from Dr. B. and Dr. L.H., which were not obtained by VA in the initial rating decision. The claim is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected chronic kidney disease, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.