Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diverticulosis, erectile dysfunction (ED), an acquired psychiatric disorder, cirrhosis of the liver, anemia, chronic kidney disease, polyneuropathy, acute gastritis with hemorrhage, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, GERD, and hypertension have been granted. The effective date for the service connection of GERD is January 1, 2024.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerves are granted at a 40 percent rating, but no higher, from March 31, 2022.

The Board denied a higher rating for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and enlarged prostate, finding that the Veteran did not serve in the Korean DMZ or otherwise expose to herbicide agents during his active duty. The evidence did not support a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of October 2, 2018 for the award of service connection for PTSD is granted. The claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to PTSD, is remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension requires the use of continuous medication for control, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as per Diagnostic Code 7101.

Service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, neck pain secondary to right elbow condition, and right shoulder pain secondary to right elbow condition has been granted. An initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD is also granted from March 11, 2024.,The Veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection effective November 9, 2022. A rating of 70% for PTSD is granted from that date to February 27, 2023.,A disability rating in excess of 10% for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for hypertension was denied as the earliest effective date assignable is August 10, 2022, due to the PACT Act presumption. The Veteran's current blood pressure readings do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's hypertension and sleep apnea claims are remanded for further evaluation, including a TERA Memorandum and Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER). The Board will consider the synergistic effects of toxic exposures in service when determining the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for CAD and hypertension, which are secondary to SJS, due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses and his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus type 2 was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His hypertension was granted a 10% evaluation from January 11, 2011, but no greater. The Veteran's request for an effective date before October 12, 2021, for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of hypertension and service connection for genitourinary disability, including benign prostatic hyperplasia and urinary incontinence, as secondary to medication used for a service-connected hypertension disability are remanded due to duty to assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and secondary service connection for aneurysm and hemorrhagic stroke with residuals to include as secondary to hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for consideration of a higher rating for hypertension and for individual unemployability prior to January 11, 2024. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and benign hypertensive heart disease, finding that both conditions began during service and are related to the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will request an addendum opinion regarding all theories of contention including direct service connection, presumptive exposure to burn pits, and exposure to asbestos and formaldehyde from his military occupational specialty (MOS) of pharmacy technician.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.