Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of November 1, 2019 for service connection to be established for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and status post left knee arthroscopy meniscus tear repair, and scar.

The Board has remanded the claims for HIV, back condition, hypertension, emphysema, and bilateral leg conditions due to a failure to consider all VA treatment records from the time of service until the rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as due to his service-connected hypertension has been denied. His claim for a rating of 20 percent prior to June 9, 2023, for hypertension is granted.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 10 percent for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more and requiring continuous medication for control meets the criteria under DC 7101.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected hypertension, finding that his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a 10% disability rating under Diagnostic Code 7101. The claim for accrued benefits was also denied as there were no pending claims at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for service-connected hypertension, finding that the Veteran's blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for his cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his back disability was denied. The claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertensive heart disease with fatigue and shortness of breath, hypertension based on the PACT Act, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a right hip disorder were all denied.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected hypertension, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced that his systolic pressure is predominantly 160 or more. The decision does not address other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 30, 2023. The Board found that the Veteran is precluded from substantial gainful employment due to his functional limitations caused by multiple service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic renal cancer, which is service-connected. Accrued benefits for diabetes and hypertension are granted, but not for deep vein thrombosis, peripheral neuropathy, liver cancer, obstructive sleep apnea, or depression.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for hypertension as a matter of law, denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and remanded claims for service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, vertigo, sleep apnea, skin cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the service connection for cause of death, finding that none of the Veteran's heart diagnoses, including hypertension, caused or contributed to his causes of death. The PACT Act presumption was applied to hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, parkinsonism/Parkinson's disease, hypothyroidism, and hypertension have been granted. The service connection is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's hypertension symptoms required medication and more nearly approximated diastolic pressure readings of predominantly 100 or more and systolic pressure readings of predominantly 160 or more. However, the Veteran's hypertension symptoms have not more nearly approximated predominant diastolic blood pressure of 110 or more or a predominant systolic blood pressure of 200 or more at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's hypertension symptoms required medication and more nearly approximated diastolic pressure readings of predominantly 100 or more and systolic pressure readings of predominantly 160 or more. However, the Veteran's hypertension symptoms have not more nearly approximated predominant diastolic blood pressure of 110 or more or a predominant systolic blood pressure of 200 or more at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's hypertension symptoms required medication and more nearly approximated diastolic pressure readings of predominantly 100 or more and systolic pressure readings of predominantly 160 or more. However, the Veteran's hypertension symptoms have not more nearly approximated predominant diastolic blood pressure of 110 or more or a predominant systolic blood pressure of 200 or more at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's hypertension symptoms required medication and more nearly approximated diastolic pressure readings of predominantly 100 or more and systolic pressure readings of predominantly 160 or more. However, the Veteran's hypertension symptoms have not more nearly approximated predominant diastolic blood pressure of 110 or more or a predominant systolic blood pressure of 200 or more at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and a compensable disability rating for hypertension were denied because the new evidence submitted did not meet the threshold for being relevant to the issues at hand.