Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for hyperlipidemia, vitamin D deficiency, chronic bronchitis, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, liver steatosis, and splenic artery aneurysm.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and various peripheral neuropathies and cardiovascular disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board also granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.

The appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the 70 percent rating for MDD and a compensable rating for hypertension was dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for hypertension as there is no remaining case or controversy. The claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and anxiety were denied, while the claims for acid reflux and bilateral hearing loss were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for valvular heart disease and hypertension, finding that these conditions are directly related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and TDIU due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring sufficient medical opinions on whether the conditions are caused by Toxic Exposure Risk Activities (TERA) exposures.

The Board granted an effective date of May 1, 2016, for the award of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person from June 2, 2020, to November 11, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and chronic fatigue syndrome, granted service connection for a chronic right wrist sprain, and assigned a 10 percent rating for a left knee scar. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied service connection for right and left hip strains.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension on bases other than the PACT Act, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service disease or injury and no competent medical evidence linking hypertension to any in-service illness or injury.

The Board granted the reopening of claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation but remanded all issues for further development.

The Board granted entitlement to TDIU from January 23, 2015 to October 16, 2017 based on the aggregate impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluding substantially gainful employment. The Board denied service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), finding the evidence persuasively weighs against any relationship to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a heart condition (coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy), and digestive ulcers, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or PCE, and no nexus between the conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was not sufficient evidence to show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied a rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD and granted service connection for tinnitus, while denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, pain dysfunction in the right shoulder, and hypertension.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic neuropathy of both lower extremities, and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records.

The Board remands the claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation due to service-connected disabilities, as additional development is needed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension as a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error requires an adequate medical examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for foot scars and hypertension, as well as remanded the claims for an increased rating for a bilateral foot disability and entitlement to TDIU.