Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2025

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is granted a 10 percent disability rating, and service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted due to exposure to environmental toxins while serving in Southwest Asia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a compensable rating for hypertension, as there was no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to November 19, 2024, and his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied increased ratings for persistent depressive disorder and diabetes mellitus type II, granted an increased rating of 10 percent for hypertension, and granted an increased rating of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also remanded service connection for cardiac arrhythmia.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, finding that the Veteran's hypertension was caused by in-service herbicide agent exposure and that his atrial fibrillation was secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, except for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability which were granted. The veteran was also granted service connection for hypertension.

The appeal for service connection for coronary artery disease with stent placement, diabetes mellitus II, scarring of lungs and liver, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and obstructive sleep apnea was withdrawn by the Veteran through his attorney.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee, shoulder, and knee scars disabilities, as well as a compensable disability rating for hypertension.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, arthritis of the cervical spine, cervical radiculopathy of the left arm, back disability, left elbow condition, left shoulder condition, left wrist condition, left hand condition, hypertension, and an initial rating of 10 percent for coronary arteriosclerosis prior to September 24, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral macular hemorrhage, resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claims for other disabilities were remanded for further development.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for anxiety, tinnitus, headaches, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for emphysema and pulmonary hypertension, finding that the Veteran's emphysema was caused by active service, including participation in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA), and that his pulmonary hypertension is secondary to his emphysema.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including tension headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a bilateral hearing loss disability. The Board also denied an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's headache disability.

The Board denied service connection for pheochromocytoma, hypertension (HTN), heart condition, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for further development and readjudication.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder and denied an earlier effective date prior to August 3, 2014, for the award of service connection for a postoperative hernia repair scar.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for hypertension and remanded the issue of service connection for stage 2 chronic kidney disease.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension as additional evidence is needed to determine if there is a causal relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service-connected degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for tension headaches effective September 13, 2022, but denied earlier effective dates and service connection for various conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service.

The appeal was denied a compensable rating for headaches and service connection for hypertension.