Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and earlier effective dates on several conditions, including scars, hypertension, and coronary artery disease, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues of service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are being reviewed.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his military service. The claim for a higher rating for right knee replacement surgery residuals is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for low back arthritis, left knee arthritis, and left hip arthritis. The issues of service connection for sciatic nerve pain, high blood pressure, and right arm skin cancer are remanded due to the failure to obtain VA examinations or opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum VA opinion regarding service connection for hypertension, considering its secondary nature.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of hypertension is granted, while his claim for service connection of arrhythmia is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral blepharitis and corneal pannus, eczema, tinnitus, OSA, diabetes, left foot diabetic neuropathy, right foot diabetic neuropathy, migraine headaches, and hypertension was granted as of March 29, 2022. The effective date is set to the date of claim due to the Veteran's intent to file a claim prior to this date.

The Veteran's heart disability and HTN are granted as they are presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,ED is granted as it is causally related to the service-connected HTN.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, other than his loss of use of right hand and foot, do not independently render him in need of regular aid and attendance. Therefore, SMC at the (l) rate is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of CUE in the December 2005 rating decision that assigned a 60 percent initial disability rating for cardiomyopathy with pulmonary hypertension, finding no clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board denied service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from August 22, 2012 to February 28, 2014 and November 1, 2014 to February 27, 2017. The Board granted TDIU for these periods.

The Veteran's hypertension, DM2, and CAD are granted as service-connected. Shortness of breath is also granted as secondary to his service-connected conditions. The left hand/forearm condition is denied.

The Board has granted effective dates of March 7, 2023 for the awards of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and neurogenic bladder.,The Board also granted earlier effective dates of March 7, 2023 for increased ratings of PTSD (now rated as 70 percent) and hypertension (rated at 10 percent).

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including depression, mental health disorder, TBI, alopecia, headaches, TMJ disorder, insomnia, OSA, conjunctivitis, dry eye disorder, glaucoma, PFB, rhinitis, sinusitis, deviated septum, neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, asthma, hyperthyroid disorder, hives, anemia, DM (diabetes mellitus), heart disorder, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), kidney stones, hiatal hernia, hemorrhoids, right hip/thigh disorder, left hip/thigh disorder, varicose veins, heel spurs, pes planus, bunions, RUE neuropathy, LUE neuropathy, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, back disorder, RLE neuropathy, LLE neuropathy, HTN (hypertension), GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), bladder disorder, ED (erectile dysfunction), prostate disorder, and gout.

The Veteran's hypertension was not rated as more than noncompensable due to intermittent readings above the threshold for a compensable rating.,Service connection was granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis, with no specific service-connected condition or exposure basis provided.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and migraine headaches, as well as the TDIU claim due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's service-connected conditions will be evaluated again, and additional development is required for the TDIU claim.

The Board denied service connection for obesity, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea as there was no evidence of these conditions during active service or within one year after separation. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical records showing a relationship to his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran requires personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months based on his inability to perform activities of daily living and need for supervision or protection due to symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment. The VA will now evaluate whether participation in the PCAFC program is in the Veteran's best interest.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for atrial fibrillation and hypertension due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing all theories of entitlement, including secondary service connection.