Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension due to incomplete VA records and outstanding private treatment records.

Service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure. Service connection for hypertension is denied as there was no effective date earlier than August 10, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and bilateral legs varicose veins, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain relevant private medical records prior to 2018, which could have put VA on notice of potential earlier treatment. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information about his hypertension and all related providers and dates.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for service-connected hypertension, finding that the Veteran's blood pressure readings do not meet the criteria for a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) is related to his service-connected hypertension, and thus grants service connection for CKD as secondary.

The Veteran's left shoulder arthroscopic labral tear repair with residual pain and decreased range of motion is granted a disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher. Other conditions are denied or not rated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is entitled to VA examinations to determine if his claimed disabilities are related to his service.

All appeals concerning service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the invalidity of the initial Notice of Disagreement submitted by the Veteran's surviving spouse before substitution was approved.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, left and right lower extremity diabetic and lumbar radiculopathy involving the femoral and sciatic nerves is dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for fatigue and hypertension is also dismissed.

The Board has denied the service connection claims for lymphoma, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as there is no evidence of an in-service event or injury related to these conditions. The Veteran's private treatment records do not establish a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to service connection for kidney problems is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date, prior to April 23, 2021, for the award of service connection for hypertension, BPPV, and ED to include SMC-K was denied. The Veteran's initial compensable rating for BPPV was granted. His initial compensable rating for ED (to include higher-level SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ) was denied. His initial compensable rating for hypertension was also denied.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is rated at 70 percent from October 4, 2024. A separate 20 percent rating for DMII is granted. The Veteran is granted a TDIU based solely on his adjustment disorder as of October 4, 2024.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for excessive triglycerides, kidney disability, restless leg syndrome of the right lower extremity, restless leg syndrome of the left lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are denied. The Board has also determined that these claims should be remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities has not been established, as he can use assistive devices to dress himself and maintain cleanliness of appearance.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches (to include migraines), and a cervical spine disability. The claims are being remanded to the AOJ for further development.,No specific rating or effective date was assigned in this decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for readjudicating his service connection claim for a thoracolumbar spine disorder due to new and relevant evidence. The AOJ is required to remand the case for further action on both the thoracolumbar spine disorder and hypertension claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating, as his blood pressure readings do not consistently indicate diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160. The Veteran is therefore denied an increased rating for his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease are being remanded due to errors in the duty-to-assist process. The RO is required to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Okinawa.

The Board has determined that there were duty to assist errors in the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disability. The claims are being remanded for further development.