The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hypertension was denied. The claim for increased ratings for lumbar strain with DDD and IVDS prior to May 18, 2019, and from March 23, 2021, is granted at 40 percent. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (to include depression and major affective disorder) was reopened and granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability manifested with forward flexion of 25 degrees without ankylosis from March 23, 2021, meeting the criteria for a 40 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension, Lumbar Strain with Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) and Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 8, 2024
- Citation
- 24006831
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 24006831.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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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