Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's death was caused by his hypertension, which is considered a service-connected condition. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder is granted. The claims for service connection for hypertension, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to prostate cancer are denied. The case is remanded for further action on the retinitis pigmentosa of both eyes.

The Veteran's headaches, hypertension, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were not found to be related to his active service.,There is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after the Veteran's separation from service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a result of the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022.,The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to determine whether the Veteran had pre-existing left and right ankle disabilities or lower extremity neuropathy prior to service. The claims are remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to internal inconsistencies in the medical opinion provided.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is granted an initial 10 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's hypertension (HTN) is granted a 10 percent disability rating prior to May 17, 2017. The appeal for higher ratings from May 17, 2017, to November 28, 2020, and after that date is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for residuals of postoperative right knee lateral collateral ligament strain remains at 10 percent, while other conditions are either not granted or remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as per Diagnostic Code 7101, and therefore his claim for a higher evaluation is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as due to herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam, including under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. The right lower leg atrophy claim is denied. The claims for bilateral knee conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's asthma, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and left hip condition are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left hip condition is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology; and there is no evidence that the current disability is related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board finds the VA opinions inadequate and requires a new examination to assess whether the Veteran can secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to verify whether the Veteran performed classified temporary duty assignments and/or Special Operations assignments in the Republic of Vietnam and Thailand during his period of active service, as well as requesting unit histories from the 100th Airborne Missile Maintenance Squadron.

The Veteran's asthma, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and left hip condition are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left hip condition is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a cardiovascular disorder, to include residuals of a stroke, due to the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The effective date is not specified as it stems from a March 2023 rating decision based on PACT Act.

The Veteran's asthma, bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and left hip condition are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral hand carpal tunnel syndrome is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left hip condition is not service-connected as it was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and was not noted in service with attributable continuity of symptomatology; and there is no evidence that the current disability is related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection is not granted because the Veteran did not have a chronic condition during or within one year after service that could be presumed due to exposure. The conditions were first diagnosed decades after separation.

The Board has granted effective earlier dates of June 3, 2020 for the award of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus with hypertension and related peripheral neuropathies. The decision is based on exposure to herbicide agents during service at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act and also secondary to his service-connected PTSD with AUD, leading to an earlier effective date.