Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU and DEA. The Board has remanded these claims due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was initially granted with an effective date of June 27, 2023, but later amended to September 9, 2021. He is now seeking earlier consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's hypertension was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease, osteoarthritis of the right hand second digit and thumb, asthma, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), prostate cancer with prostatectomy, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, right thigh residual scar, right index finger scar, and abdomen scar, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, bilateral heel spurs, and hypertension require additional medical examination to determine their etiology. The case is therefore being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure or other link to service.

The Board has denied service connection for high cholesterol, sciatica prior to July 8, 2022, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), TMJ, GERD, CFS, bilateral ankle disabilities, tinnitus, headaches prior to December 29, 2023, insomnia with unrestful sleep, and a mental health disorder. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in October 2022, but the RO granted it in January 2024 with an effective date of April 6, 2023. The Board is remanding the case to reconsider the issue due to procedural history and the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicides in Thailand under the PACT Act.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of September 24, 2018 for his total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to a combination of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's earlier effective dates for service connection of hypertension and tinnitus are denied.,An increased disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected hypertension is denied, as his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted, effective from August 12, 2022 to August 22, 2023. The effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance is also granted as of August 12, 2022. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension remains denied.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's atrial fibrillation and hypertension, as well as whether these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since June 2014.,The Board finds that the combination of multiple disabilities, including sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, and lumbar condition with radiculopathy, has prevented the Veteran from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, GERD, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to pre-decisional errors in VA examinations.,VA is required to provide a VA examination if there is (1) a current disability; (2) an injury or disease in service; and (3) a possible nexus between them.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a separate compensable disability rating for headaches secondary to hypertension are remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the appellant's appeal, finding that his character of discharge from active military service is a bar to VA benefits. The appeals for service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease and Hypertension were also denied as they are considered direct determinations based on the facts known at the time.

The Veteran's hypertension is not manifested by diastolic blood pressure of predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's hearing acuity was no worse than Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.,There is only one painful scar of the abdomen, rated at 10 percent under DC 7804. The Veteran does not have two scars that are unstable or painful.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension due to duty-to-assist errors. The VA Regional Office is required to obtain evidence of asbestos exposure, as well as opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension in relation to his obesity and service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, left shoulder disability, hypertension, and sleep disability due to duty-to-assist errors. Service connection is granted for allergic rhinitis.