The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for hypertension, an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits were all denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to his blood pressure readings being controlled with medication. For TDIU and DEA, the Board determined that the Veteran was not unemployable prior to March 17, 2023, as he had other service-connected disabilities rated at 60 percent or more combined.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hypertension did not predominantly rise above 160 systolic or 100 diastolic pressure. The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable prior to March 17, 2023, as he had other service-connected disabilities rated at 60 percent or more combined.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26033305
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 A26033305.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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