Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, to include cardiovascular disease were dismissed as the issues are improperly before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension effective January 14, 2021. The claims were based on exposure to herbicide agents during service in Guam, which is considered presumptive under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hypertension is being remanded due to the VA not obtaining relevant non-VA treatment records from Dr. C.B.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a cardiovascular disorder, finding that the conditions are due to herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is also service-connected.

The Veteran's hypertension requires continuous medication, but his diastolic pressure has not predominantly been 100 or more and systolic pressure has not predominantly been 160 or more. Therefore, the initial compensable rating for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he is deceased.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, hypertension (secondary to PTSD), migraine headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome are all denied.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence of these conditions during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits claim is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the impact of his additional and increased service-connected disabilities on his employment capabilities. The case will be readjudicated after a new evaluation with a VRC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and hypertension were previously denied, but the Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted as the supplemental claim was filed more than one year after the final denial of these issues.

The Veteran's claims for pulmonary venous hypertension, Lyme disease, and hypokalemia have been denied. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for cardiomyopathy is remanded due to an inadequate rationale in the previous VA opinion. A new examination is required to determine if his condition began during active service or is related to an incident of service, including documented cardiac symptoms.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his cardiomyopathy claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension had its onset during his first period of active duty service and has continued since then. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including left upper chest pacemaker scars, painful scar status post cardiac pacemaker reimplantation, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. The decision also notes that VA treatment records from Homer VA Clinic are needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was dismissed because the appeal was not timely filed and the Board lacks authority to adjudicate the claim on its merits.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on gastroesophageal reflux disorder, hypertension, and right shoulder condition has been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing their appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand are granted. The PACT Act of 2022 expanded the presumption of herbicide agent exposure to all of Thailand and established hypertension as a presumptive condition.

The Veteran passed away while under VA care and at VA expense, meeting the criteria for non-service-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hypertension is being remanded due to an error in obtaining relevant non-VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw all pending appeals.

The Veteran's unemployability was factually ascertainable by the record since September 2013, and his TDIU claim was not received within one year of this date. Therefore, the effective date for the grant of TDIU is May 4, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CFS, hypertension, GERD, hip arthritis, shoulder and knee conditions, ankle conditions, cervical spine and low back conditions, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral plantar fasciitis, have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to active duty service.