The appeal for a compensable rating for hypertension was denied, and the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed. The claims for higher ratings and service connection for heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and tinnitus were remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for hypertension, and there was no evidence to support service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The other issues required further development due to the Veteran's death and potential toxic exposure risk activities.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, heart disease (status post coronary artery bypass graft with coronary artery disease), atrial fibrillation with irregular heartbeat, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- April 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25033820
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
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