Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for hypertension, as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's hypertension is being evaluated again due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether it was aggravated by his PTSD.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension are granted as secondary to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, CAD, and hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hypertension from August 10, 2022, to May 8, 2023, was denied. The discontinuance of the 100 percent rating for residuals of prostate cancer effective August 1, 2023, was upheld.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to lack of evidence showing a link between any of the Veteran's conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for hypertension is granted, and his service connection claim for headaches is denied.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and IHD were all granted with effective dates based on the implementation of the PACT Act. The rating for IHD was increased to 30% from a previous 10%. All other claims are denied.

The Veteran's death is attributed to his service-connected hypertension and diabetes, which were found to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during his time in Thailand. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in January 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act, finding that the Veteran's active duty service involved work in or near the Korean DMZ and his unit performed duties reasonably consistent with this. The appeal is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, hair loss, penile disability, hypertension, heart disability, knee disabilities, and wrist disabilities. The appeals were remanded for further action on some issues.

The Veteran's hypertension was diagnosed during her active service and continues to this day. The Board has determined that the evidence supports a finding of service connection for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for high blood pressure/hypertension was proper. The Veteran's claims for back disability, sleep apnea syndrome, and acquired psychiatric disabilities (anxiety and depression) are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The lumbar spine disability, PTSD, HTN, and ED issues are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not develop during his active service and was not aggravated by service. The condition is considered to have preexisted his second period of service from September 2005 to December 2006, and there is no evidence showing it worsened beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II, are granted with effective dates of September 10, 1993.

The Veteran's claims for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as well as cervical spinal stenosis have been granted. The claim of service connection for hypertension (HTN) has also been granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and right shoulder disability have also been granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension has required continuous management by medication, but the evidence does not show that his blood pressure readings have consistently been at or above the levels required for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Veteran's hypertension, which has required continuous medication for control throughout the appeal period, does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as defined by Diagnostic Code (DC) 7101. The Board found that there is no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more.

The Board has determined that the appellant's hypertension is related to service, specifically his time off the coast of Vietnam where he served in the Gulf of Tonkin. However, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, the Board must obtain an initial examination and opinion regarding the nexus between the appellant's current diagnosis of HTN and herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension effective August 10, 2022 under the PACT Act. The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.