Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide adequate reasons and bases for denying service connection for hypertension on any basis other than on a presumptive basis pursuant to the PACT Act. The Veteran's direct theory of service connection for hypertension is raised, but VA medical opinions are needed regarding whether it is at least as likely as not aggravated by PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including hypertension, headaches, pseudoseizures, right and left hand neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TDIU are being remanded due to the failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The Board finds good cause for missing the appointments.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), laryngeal cancer, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to his military service.

Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for hypertension from May 9, 2021, is denied due to blood pressure readings not meeting the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating under VA's rating criteria.,Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for left shoulder acromiale from May 9, 2021, is denied as the Veteran's condition has completely resolved with no residuals, recurrence, chronicity, or progression.,Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for right shoulder acromiale from May 9, 2021, is denied due to complete resolution of the condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for hypertension, as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's hypertension is being evaluated again due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether it was aggravated by his PTSD.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension are granted as secondary to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, CAD, and hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hypertension from August 10, 2022, to May 8, 2023, was denied. The discontinuance of the 100 percent rating for residuals of prostate cancer effective August 1, 2023, was upheld.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to lack of evidence showing a link between any of the Veteran's conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for hypertension is granted, and his service connection claim for headaches is denied.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and IHD were all granted with effective dates based on the implementation of the PACT Act. The rating for IHD was increased to 30% from a previous 10%. All other claims are denied.

The Veteran's death is attributed to his service-connected hypertension and diabetes, which were found to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during his time in Thailand. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in January 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act, finding that the Veteran's active duty service involved work in or near the Korean DMZ and his unit performed duties reasonably consistent with this. The appeal is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, hair loss, penile disability, hypertension, heart disability, knee disabilities, and wrist disabilities. The appeals were remanded for further action on some issues.

The Veteran's hypertension was diagnosed during her active service and continues to this day. The Board has determined that the evidence supports a finding of service connection for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for high blood pressure/hypertension was proper. The Veteran's claims for back disability, sleep apnea syndrome, and acquired psychiatric disabilities (anxiety and depression) are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The lumbar spine disability, PTSD, HTN, and ED issues are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not develop during his active service and was not aggravated by service. The condition is considered to have preexisted his second period of service from September 2005 to December 2006, and there is no evidence showing it worsened beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II, are granted with effective dates of September 10, 1993.

The Veteran's claims for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as well as cervical spinal stenosis have been granted. The claim of service connection for hypertension (HTN) has also been granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and right shoulder disability have also been granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.