The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for hypertension and remanded the claims for service connection for emphysema and an esophageal condition due to a pre-decisional error in not providing required examinations under the PACT Act.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, while the claims for service connection were remanded due to a failure to provide required examinations under the PACT Act.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension (HTN), Emphysema, Esophageal condition to include gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) and diverticulum of the esophagus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 30, 2025
- Citation
- A25056442
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a stomach disorder, HTN, and a heart condition due to the need for additional evidence.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart disease (IHD), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent placement as secondary to IHD, hypertensive heart disease, and emphysema. The COPD claim was denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure with ICD placement, diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, tinnitus, sinus tachycardia, and cardiomyopathy. The claims for irritable bowel syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder were remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for mantle cell lymphoma, emphysema, diabetes mellitus, Type II, bilateral foot neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and antisocial personality disorder.
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