Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension and heart disease are related to his active-duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations for hypertension, left humerus fracture with arthritis and rotator cuff tendinopathy, and right distal fibula fracture due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran is requested to provide information about any VA or non-VA healthcare providers who have treated him for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed hypertension. The issues are whether his current HTN is related to service and whether his service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his HTN.

The appeal of the service connection claim for a low back disability is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection in a prior decision. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's GAD was granted service connection on a direct basis. The claims for back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and stroke are remanded due to duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations for hypertension, left humerus fracture with arthritis and rotator cuff tendinopathy, and right distal fibula fracture due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran is requested to provide information about any VA or non-VA healthcare providers who have treated him for these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and he receives a 30% rating for his tension headaches.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's hallux valgus of the right foot associated with hallux valgus of the left foot is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating. The claim for hypertension as secondary to PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD due to MST and membranous nephritis with hypertension resulted in a 70% rating effective June 20, 2019. The Board granted an earlier effective date for the TDIU determination based on the factually ascertainable increase in disability occurring as of June 30, 2020.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal of service connection for hypertension due to a procedural error in filing the claim on the wrong form, and no case or controversy remains.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused or aggravated his hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and sleep apnea.,Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension, requiring continuous medication for control, is granted an initial rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board finds that the current evidence does not warrant a noncompensable evaluation, but further review with additional private treatment records from Dr. C. may be needed.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and loss of smell as secondary to allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's hypertension was found to have onset in service and persisted post-service, while his loss of smell is attributed to his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II with bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and hypertension have been denied. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or toxic risk activities (TERA) related to these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus are denied because there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to active service, and the weight of the evidence supports a finding that his tinnitus began after separation from service. The same reasoning applies to diabetes mellitus type II with bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for low back condition, high blood pressure, lower stomach problems, and a disease manifested by acid reflux as there is no competent evidence of these conditions during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his hypertension, which contributed to his cause of death. The benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine is applied in favor of the appellant.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the initial denial of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension. The claims are being remanded to obtain an adequate opinion addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which is considered as an intermediate step.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that he does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension as defined by VA regulations.