Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and stroke, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his exposure to herbicide agents during active service. The claim is granted on a presumptive basis due to the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of mental health disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney stone condition, right knee disability, left knee disability, osteoarthritis of the cervical spine associated with ankylosing spondylitis, and left hip condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7101, as there was no history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more and continuous medication was required but not due to such high readings.

The Veteran's claims for left shoulder condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened. However, the claim to reopen for sleep condition, hepatitis C, and hypertension has not been successful.,Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for sensory and motor neuropathy of the right lower extremity is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, which was noted during service and continued thereafter, contributed to his death. Therefore, service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient reasoning in previous decisions and a need for clarification regarding whether the Veteran's obesity, which may be linked to his service-connected prednisone use, is a substantial factor in causing or aggravating his hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, hypertension, diabetes, and sleep apnea have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,VA is required to provide a VA examination or medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for a heart disorder, including chronic ischemic heart disease, and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for hypertension has been withdrawn.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, and right lower extremity pain (claimed as sciatica).,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his foot conditions have also been remanded.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at a 70 percent rating, effective from October 8, 2012. A TDIU rating is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a compensable rating for the service-connected migraine headache disability due to the Veteran's request to withdraw his appeal. The earlier effective dates for major depressive disorder (MDD) and hypertension (HTN) disabilities were granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for the issues of fatty liver cysts, residual(s) of prostatectomy, residual(s) of a stroke, polymyositis with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, ischemic heart disease status post bypass (claimed as triple heart bypass), and hypertension. The Board has therefore remanded these matters for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded due to the failure to obtain federal employment medical records and military facility records. The Board will attempt to obtain these records before deciding the case.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's condition began during active service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, hypertensive heart disease, and fibromyalgia (undiagnosed illness and/or medically unexplained chronic multi symptom illness as a result of environmental hazards during the Persian Gulf War).,For hypertension, the Board found no current diagnosis. For hypertensive heart disease, the claim was not pursued due to lack of service connection for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed hypertension is causally linked to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and thus service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased ratings for chest surgery scars and hypertension, as well as service connection claims for right and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, right foot sprain, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and right knee condition other than gout are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from June 30, 2006 to March 29, 2021.

The Veteran's disabilities, including vasculopathy and subsequent conditions such as degenerative joint disease, left great toe amputation, hypertension, stroke, pain on the left side of his body, right leg condition, and left leg condition, are not deemed to be proximately due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.