The Veteran's hypertension and low back disability were granted service connection, with the effective date being December 22, 2007. The initial ratings for both conditions are 20 percent and 10 percent respectively.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records showed elevated blood pressure readings shortly before separation from service, which was controlled by medication. Post-service VA records continued to show hypertension diagnoses and use of anti-hypertensive medication. For the low back disability, the Veteran's service treatment records noted hypercholesterolemia, a diagnosis that was also made in post-service VA records.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 19, 2012
- Citation
- 1225056
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1225056.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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