Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the claim of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded. The Veteran's sleep apnea may be secondary to his service-connected hypertension, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for additional months of service-connected compensation for various conditions have been denied. The effective dates and payment start dates are legally correct.

The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy have not met the criteria for increased ratings. The earlier effective dates for service connection, rating assignments, and SMC are denied.,The Board has remanded the claim of an appropriate evaluation for CAD with history of coronary artery bypass graft.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hypertension due to incomplete medical opinions provided by VA examiners.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to errors in duty to assist. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again with additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development regarding potential exposure to PFAS firefighting foam and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for hypertension, which is secondary to service-connected PTSD, has been dismissed because the appellant requested and received permission to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension and PTSD. The VA needs to provide updated opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with hypertension and its relationship to service, as well as right shoulder pain.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, hypertension, a heart disorder (atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease status post CABG), right knee amputation, and left knee amputation all related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, chronic sinusitis, erosion of posterior medial maxillary sinuses, and bilateral hearing loss are denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a service connection claim for these conditions.

The Veteran's kidney condition and hypertension are denied as service connection is not established due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active duty or ADT.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and relevant evidence did not support readjudication of these claims. The TDIU claim was also denied as the Veteran's single service-connected condition (hiatal hernia) did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings for hypertension and chronic kidney disease have been granted. The Veteran now has an effective date of December 30, 2019, for both conditions.

The Veteran's MDD, rated at 100 percent since August 20, 2020, and other service-connected conditions have resulted in an effective date of August 20, 2020, for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for hypertension is being remanded due to missing private treatment records. The AOJ will make reasonable efforts to obtain these records and consider them in the readjudication of the claim.

The Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations, as his blood pressure readings never showed diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more. The Veteran was on continuous medication but this alone is insufficient to qualify for a compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and low back disorder as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no one has requested substitution for the Veteran.

The Veteran's eligibility for transfer of educational benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill to his dependent spouse was denied due to failure to meet his service commitment prior to his obligated projected end date.