The Board granted an initial 60 percent rating for hypertensive heart disease, a separate 10 percent rating for hypothyroidism residuals, urinary symptoms, and a separate 10 percent rating for hypothyroidism residuals, gastrointestinal symptoms. A 20 percent rating was also granted for dry eye syndrome and pseudophakia due to cataract extraction, associated with hypothyroidism.

The deciding factor: The evidence is in approximate balance on whether the hypertensive heart disease manifests in heart failure symptoms at a workload of 3.1-5.0 METs, warranting a 60 percent rating. The Veteran's hypothyroidism was found to not manifest as myxedema and did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

Claimed conditions

hypertensive heart disease, hypothyroidism, status post Graves' disease, dry eye syndrome and pseudophakia due to cataract extraction, associated with hypothyroidism, hypothyroidism residuals, urinary symptoms, hypothyroidism residuals, gastrointestinal symptoms

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

February 25, 2025

Citation

A25016539

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