Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, and a seizure disorder due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's exposure to Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water is conceded, but the opinions from previous examiners did not consider this exposure or discuss the relationship between his conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for heel pain, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hypertension, thyroid disorder (hypothyroidism), and sinusitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's mood disorder was granted a 50 percent rating from March 22, 2017 to July 28, 2020 and a 70 percent rating thereafter. Service connection for headaches as secondary to his mood disorder and hypertension as secondary to kidney condition were also granted.,The Veteran received SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's hypertension was found to not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his blood pressure readings did not consistently exceed the threshold required for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for stroke, sleep apnea, and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The VA will need to provide a medical examination and opinion regarding the onset of these conditions during service or their relationship to TBI. Toxic exposure risk activities are not considered in this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he does not meet the criteria for this benefit.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, have prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment since August 25, 2019. The Board has determined that the criteria for a TDIU are met.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for hepatitis C and denied the claim of service connection for body rashes. The claim of service connection for hypertension is being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary arteriosclerosis and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea.

The Board has restored service connection for hypertension and left eye branch retinal vein occlusion, which were previously severed. Service connection is also granted for a heart disorder (myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and coronary artery bypass graft) as secondary to service-connected hypertension, and for scars caused by the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery bypass graft.

The Veteran's hypertension, characterized by a systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more during the review period, is granted an initial rating of 10 percent effective August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hypertension and service connection for cervical spine pain status post-surgery is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to toxic substances during service and the relationship between his current disabilities and such exposures.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a compensable rating for sinusitis due to procedural issues. The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as there is no evidence of chronic hypertension during or within one year after service, nor is it otherwise related to an in-service disease or injury. For his sinusitis, the Board found that he did not meet the criteria for a 10% rating based on incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or non-incapacitating episodes characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Veteran's hypertension was not rated as compensable, as his diastolic pressure did not predominantly reach 100 or more.,SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is granted with an effective date of November 1, 2011.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more.

The Veteran's hypertension and sleep apnea are granted service connection as they are related to active service.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for hypertension and ESRD, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The Veteran's hypertension is found to have had its onset during active duty, and it is at least as likely as not that his ESRD is secondary to his hypertension.