Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) including pericarditis with hypertension was granted, and the effective date is set at May 2, 2007. The decision also corrected an error in applying VA regulations that resulted in a lower initial rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition and hypertension were dismissed because the issues were pending final adjudication due to a higher-level review request, and the rule against concurrent election prohibits filing a new appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, hemorrhoids, and acid reflux have been denied as there is no probative evidence showing that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,For hypertension, the Board found no current disability and concluded that it did not begin during service or be related to any in-service condition. For erectile dysfunction, secondary service connection was denied as there is no evidence of a service-connected disorder causing or aggravating this condition. Hemorrhoids were not diagnosed at any point during the claims period, and acid reflux was not found based on the provided medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, right shoulder degenerative changes, and hypertension due to duty-to-assist errors in prior decisions.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine at L3-L5 and S1 are now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021. Service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, CAD, PTSD, sleep apnea, and headaches are all granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during service in and around the Korean DMZ. The effective date for this grant of service connection is set at May 12, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence and failure to consider certain issues.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for depression associated with tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment.,Service connection for hypertension, a disease deemed presumptively service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, was granted under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's tinnitus, ischemic heart disease (secondary to herbicide exposure), and hypertension have been granted service connection. The Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam and is presumed exposed to herbicides there.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and hernia, upper torso/sternum due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, GERD, adjustment disorder, hypertension, insomnia, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, chronic asthma, and headaches. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently assigned a noncompensable rating, and the claim for a compensable evaluation is denied.,There is no evidence of a current left hip disability during or approximate to the period on appeal. The claim for service connection for a left hip condition is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder with alcohol dependency is remanded as there was no specific assertion of PTSD and VA examination is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of the claimed psychiatric disorder, including whether it is secondary to or caused by a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded due to his assertion that it is secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection for diabetes mellitus (to include as secondary to hypertension) is also remanded based on the Veteran's assertion of its secondary relationship to hypertension.,Right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are remanded as they are claimed to be secondary to diabetes mellitus, which is itself a claim that requires further development.,The Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy claims are remanded based on the same reasoning as his diabetes mellitus claim.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for radiculopathy, right upper extremity; radiculopathy, left upper extremity; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); and a compensable evaluation for service-connected hypertension as no valid appeal was filed with respect to the March 2021 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of headaches, service connection for brain tumor, hypertension, varicose veins, and chronic renal disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The severance of service connection for bilateral glaucoma is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of outstanding service records.

The Veteran's hypertension and heart disease are related to his active-duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations for hypertension, left humerus fracture with arthritis and rotator cuff tendinopathy, and right distal fibula fracture due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran is requested to provide information about any VA or non-VA healthcare providers who have treated him for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed hypertension. The issues are whether his current HTN is related to service and whether his service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his HTN.

The appeal of the service connection claim for a low back disability is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection in a prior decision. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension are remanded.