Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the cause of death and DIC claim. The AOJ is required to obtain new VA medical opinions addressing whether service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death, as well as any negligence in reducing his pain medication.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and recurrent cerebrovascular accident/stroke residuals. Service connection is remanded for Type II diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and hypertension. The Board also found that new evidence submitted by the Veteran supports re-adjudicating his claim for service connection of prostate cancer.

The Veteran's PTSD is not currently rated at a higher level due to its current severity.,Hypertension has been granted based on the PACT Act, and service connection for a back disability and left foot drop have also been established.

The Veteran's attorney is not eligible for fees based on past-due benefits awarded from an April 2022 dependency decision that added his spouse to the award, as both the underlying service connection and dependency benefits were outside the scope of representation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hypertension and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain has been denied. For hypertension, the evidence does not show diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more. For left knee strain, the Veteran's flexion is limited to 45 degrees and extension is limited to 10 degrees, which corresponds to a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be related to his service due to herbicide agent exposure, but the Board finds that VA's duty to assist requires a medical opinion to determine if there is a direct causal relationship. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to a duty-to-assist error. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially and materially to his death.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of verified in-service stressors. Service connection for hypertension is granted based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and chronic kidney disease, post-transplant, secondary to hypertension are remanded as there are procedural errors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his service-connected left elbow, right knee, low back, left ulnar neuropathy, and hypertension disabilities have been denied. The RO also remanded several issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and tinnitus are dismissed. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right wrist disorder is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lateral epicondylitis and high blood pressure, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for hypertension is denied, and his entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for dizziness/Meniere's disease is remanded.

The VA notification letter informing the Veteran to use the proper form to request review of a previously denied claim for hypertension was not an appealable decision and thus dismissed.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension has been dismissed because it was previously adjudicated by the Board in June 2023 and is now final.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, and hypertension has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.,There is no evidence in the record showing that the Veteran had any of these disabilities at any time during or recent to the filing of his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance, finding that prior to November 5, 2018, he did not require regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension was diagnosed during active service and treated post-service. The Board granted service connection for hypertension based on the continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, effective from March 18, 2022.,Service connection for CAD due to exposure in the Gulf War is granted with a 30 percent rating as of March 18, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including myelodysplastic syndrome, hypertension, chronic bronchitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from April 18, 2022, until his death on October [REDACTED], 2023. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis based on the evidence showing functional limitations due to these conditions.