Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2026

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions of tinnitus, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypertension, and iron deficiency anemia as there is no evidence of any complaints, treatment, or diagnosis in service or after service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss and hypertension due to insufficient medical evidence to determine a nexus between in-service noise exposure or use of ineffective ear plugs during service.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted an increased rating to 40 percent, and service connection for gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as functional abdominal pain syndrome and IBS) is granted. The Veteran's hypertension and left ear hearing loss disability are also granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for both hypertension and sleep apnea as there was no competent evidence of current diagnoses or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability, with obesity serving as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable, as there is no history of diastolic pressure above 100.,Service connection for COPD and GERD are denied due to lack of in-service disease or injury.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and his hypertension is granted an initial rating of 10 percent. The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy claim is denied.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the decision-making process and has ordered a remand for further development of the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate rationale for the denial of service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is potentially entitled to presumptive service connection, but the examiner did not address whether it began during active service or was noted with continuity since service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will consider any additional evidence when readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's initial rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease/coronary artery disease associated with right bundle block branch (heart disease) is denied as the evidence does not show that he had heart failure symptoms from a workload of 5.0 METs or less.,The Veteran's increased rating for diabetes mellitus type two (diabetes) is denied as medical management of his diabetes does not require regulation of activities, and there are no compensable complications.,The Veteran's increased rating for hypertension is denied as the evidence shows that his diastolic blood pressure has never been predominantly 110 or more, or systolic pressure has never been predominantly 200 or more.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a noncompensable level, but the Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for his condition.

The Veteran's hypertension, left and right lower extremity non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and tremor-related disorder (claimed as Parkinsonism) are granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agent during service. However, the claim for service connection of a tremor-related disorder is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension due to lack of a causal relationship with in-service exposure, and the claim for COPD is remanded as VA failed to reschedule diagnostic testing despite the Veteran's efforts.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of April 29, 2024, for service connection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is granted. The claim for a compensable disability rating for Hypertension is denied. The claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed again with a new examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, bilateral knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a hearing before the AOJ, and instructions are given for the AOJ to fulfill this requirement.

The Veteran's appeal of the June 2011 rating decision for service connection for hypertension was dismissed due to a procedural defect in submitting the VA Form 10182, which was submitted over one year after the notification letter.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hypertension claim stems from his March 2010 filing and is on appeal via the March 2026 rating decision. The AOJ should have afforded the Veteran an additional examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension, including considering any medication he may be taking for his service-connected psychiatric disorder and left thumb disability.