Fill out the short form below to contact us. evaluation for an individual with a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more who requires continuous medication for control; In order for the VA to evaluate this condition for determination of a schedular disability rating, the veteran's hypertension must be confirmed by . The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 Unless the effects of medications are specifically included in the impairment rating criteria for your condition, the VA is NOTallowed to consider whether a particular medication moderates a Veterans condition in determining the degree of disability. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Diagnostic codes are specifically for disabilities that can be service connected, which means caused or aggravated by military . Your doctor (even one from the VA) accepts this definition (and treats accordingly). In 2019 and 2020 I received numerous award letters in my favor and two were backdated to 2011. <<, Brian Reeseis a VA benefits expert, author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, andfounder of VA Claims InsiderThe Most Trusted Name in Education-Based Resources for Veterans.. Yes, High Blood Pressure is a VA disability and can be rated at 10%, 20%, 40%, or 60% depending upon the frequency, severity, and duration of your symptoms as well as how those symptoms affect your Occupational and Social Impairment meaning your work, life, and social functioning. He is aformer active duty Air Force officerwith extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. You may also have another serious health condition that requires medical attention. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. When this binding occurs, the arteries have difficulty responding to the bodys natural signals and instructions to decrease blood pressure. PTSD is not cured. The average adult blood pressure is 120/80. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. Persistent and recurring symptoms of Hypertension (Severity of Symptoms). Does the veterans treatment plan include taking continuous medication for Hypertension or Isolated Systolic Hypertension? Contact Woods and Woods to file an initial claim or appeal a rating decision. However, unless medication is mentioned in the Schedule of Ratings under the conditions diagnostic code, the VA may not consider the beneficial effect of a veterans medication in assigning a rating. If the diagnostic code for a condition does not mention medication, andwith or without ita veteran currently meets the criteria outlined in the Schedule of Ratings to receive benefits for the disability, the veteran will continue to qualify for VA benefits. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! It measures the pressure when the heart fills with blood. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. 0000010049 00000 n The following is an incomplete list of examples of when the VA can consider the effects of medication when assigning a disability rating. As a result, his readings will be "normal" due to all the meds. There are 3 primary ways a veteran can get a VA disability rating for High Blood Pressure: When VA Rating Officials are determining the appropriate disability evaluation to assign for High Blood Pressure, the primary consideration is a veterans current SYMPTOMS; however, VA Raters must also make findings as to HOW those symptoms contribute to functional impairment or loss. As of December 1st, 2021, the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows: 0 percent disability rating: $0.00 per month. These are a few things to keep in mind to help strengthen your case and prepare for your C&P Exam if you want to add hypertension to your disability claims: The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association both define the earliest stage of hypertension as a systolic blood pressure (SBP, or the top number in a BP reading) greater than 130 mm Hg and a diastolic blood pressure (DBP, or the bottom number) as greater than 80 mm HG. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 High blood pressure controlled by medication - VA Disability On the other hand, if your disability is severe and it affects you often, the VA will compensate you for that conditiontypically at the higher disability percentage. Gout is common in veterans. we represent clients nationwide. 0000004237 00000 n In fact, it may have the opposite effect if your exam has to be canceled for you to be sent to the hospital for a hypertensive emergency! eCFR :: 38 CFR 4.104 -- Schedule of ratingscardiovascular system. But, when it comes to hypertension, some veterans may already be on medication to help control the issue and level out their blood pressure. Through the years, scientific evidence of Agent Oranges ill effects mounted. The VA, after many years, acknowledged that veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange may have certain related cancers or other illnesses.. VA Disability Benefits For Hypertension - The Veterans Law Office Asthma, which often requires medication, is rated under diagnostic code 6602. VA Disability for Hypertension. VA rating for High Blood Pressure : r/VeteransBenefits - Reddit Many different medications for PTSD can cause disruptive side effects. Regulation Update: VA Ratings for Kidney Disease and Renal Dysfunction. Medication can play a critical role in helping veterans alleviate the symptoms of their service-connected disabilities. 0000018752 00000 n Is High Blood Pressure a VA Presumptive Condition? For veterans who served in Vietnam and suffered Agent Orange exposure, the Department of Veterans Affairs acknowledges that you no longer need to prove that Agent Orange caused your high blood pressure. Wondering how to service connect your Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)? Just like your old chain-of-command in the military had a responsibility to help you get the resources you needed to accomplish your mission as a soldier, the VA also has a responsibility to assist you in proving the highest lawful rate that you are entitled to. The VA rating for high blood pressure is anywhere from 10% to 60%, depending on how high the veterans blood pressure readings are. You can still get a formal VA hypertension diagnosis if you're already on medication for high blood pressure, so this really only affects people who are trying to control their high blood pressure without medication. VA disability for High Blood Pressure has ratings of 10 percent, 20 percent, 40 percent, or 60 percent depending on the frequency, severity, and duration of your symptoms. These medications are necessary because they help keep hypertension from causing a more severe medical issue. 1,833 58. 0000018593 00000 n Hypertension VA Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation Page . Today,Brian Reesethe VA Claims Insider reveals and explains the 72 Best Federal Veteran Benefits from A to Z. It is explained as continuous medication required for control.. However, for veterans looking to add high blood pressure to their list of service-connected disability benefits, showing sufficient evidence of a hypertension diagnosis may not be as straightforward as it seems. How Does Taking Medication Affect My VA Disability? Health issues associated with high blood pressure include: Sleep apnea can be a cause and a consequence of hypertension. 0000018327 00000 n 0000001162 00000 n In the Jones v. Shinseki case, Jones suffered from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Does the veterans Hypertension or Isolated Systolic Hypertension impact his/her ability to work? 50% of all patients with sleep apnea may have underlying hypertension, You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits Youve Earned, 9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claim, Diastolic pressure predominantly 130 or more, Diastolic pressure predominantly 120 or more, Diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more, or; systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more, Diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or; systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or; minimum evaluation for an individual with a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more who requires continuous medication for control. If you dont have your own blood pressure machine, you can get a reading taken at any local pharmacy. 0000008503 00000 n #5. Therefore, when the veteran is already on medication to control hypertension, the VA reviews the medical records that resulted in the medication being prescribed. ), Gender (Males are more prone to hypertension. 0000002212 00000 n 0000007713 00000 n VA Disability for Hypothyroidism: Your Guide to Filing a Winning VA Claim #1. The courts further likened the reasonable doubt rule as akin to the principle in baseball that the tie goes to the runner.. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! These focus more on specific BP parameters and, to a large degree, medication guidelines. Hypertension from 0% to 10% question - Veterans Benefits Network Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. No, High Blood Pressure is not currently on the VA presumptive list. By law, when determining the percentage for your rating the VA can only consider the criteria contained in the Diagnostic Code for the given disability to do otherwise is error. Please, if you have any of these symptoms, go see a doctor right away! Since that time, we have provided compassionate 0000018823 00000 n 10 percent disability rating: $165.92 per month. Therefore, the VA is not allowed to consider the relief it provides when determining the degree of disability. Required fields are marked *. To service connect Hypertension secondary to Sleep Apnea, youll need to get a Medical Nexus Letter to support the connection between Hypertension and Sleep Apnea. The same concept applies in the human body, where arteries sustain inflammation as a precursor to blockages and heart attacks, the heart grows too large and becomes ineffective, and the kidneys suffer slow, quiet damage, among many other negative effects. The severe form of IBS is rated at 30% and the moderate form of IBS is rated by the VA at 10%. Veterans with PTSD are prone to hypertension because of PTSDs fear-related symptoms like hypervigilance, anxiety, and avoidance. The veteran should be seated comfortably with back and feet supported. When, after careful consideration of all evidence, a reasonable doubt arises regarding service origin, the degree of disability, or any other point, such doubt will be resolved in favor of the claimant. 0000002882 00000 n VA Disability for Medication Side Effects | CCK Law Nathan is a Nurse Practitioner, Disability Examiner, and Freelance Writer based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Note (1):Hypertension or isolated systolic hypertension must be confirmed by readings taken two or more times on at least three different days. 1481 42 hb```b``cd`c`bd@ AV(^ro4T' euCSWX c6#NA@O$O Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. Within that framework, then, there are ACC/AHA Guidelines specific to HTN. If your blood pressure is extremely high, there may be certainsymptoms to look out for, including: Yes, hypertension is a VA disability and can be rated at 10%, 20%, 40%, or 60% depending upon the frequency, severity, and duration of your symptoms. Considerable medical evidence has shown that reducing your blood pressure can contribute to a significant reduction in risk for stroke among veterans. Generally, the more severe your disability, the higher the VA rating youll receive. This can lead to several life-threatening medical problems, such as heart failure, kidney failure, and dementia. ), Other medical conditions like diabetes, tumors, sleep apnea, and thyroid conditions, Eating unhealthy foods that are high in sodium, Excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeine. Woods and Woods, LLC, Veterans Disability Lawyer, Veterans Disability Benefits Attorneys Helping Veterans Nationwide, Published on October 18, 2022 by Mike Woods Last Updated on November 7, 2022. In general, the more severe your symptoms, the higher the VA rating youll receive for high blood pressure. Its prevalence is particularly felt in the veteran community, where rates of high blood pressure for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange during military service are found to be higher than in the general population. According to the Mayo Clinic, hypertension is a common condition in veterans whereby the long-term force of the high blood pressure against your artery walls can cause a variety of health problems, such as heart disease or stroke. Alright, lets jump into this Insiders Guide for getting service connected disability for High Blood Pressure. disability claim takes an average of 95 days to decide the validity of the submitted request. Of course, HOWyou try to showthe elements of service-connection can often be the difference between a grant and a denial of a claim. It currently handles claims of exposure in these locations on a case-by-case basis: Various conditions are secondary to hypertension. Sleep Apnea rarely goes away, and its hard toreverse diabetes once your kidneys start to fail. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Business Development Representatives having gone through our programs. Medical evidence must link the primary and secondary service-connected impairments, or the secondary impairment must link to another service-connected health concern. Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. In this post, well reveal and explain how to download copies of your VA benefit letters online. can be a cause and a consequence of hypertension. The VA rates hypertensive vascular disease under diagnostic code 7101. Apr 20, 2017 #6. Diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or; systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or; minimum evaluation for an individual with a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more who requires continuous medication for control: 10 : Note (1): Hypertension or isolated systolic hypertension must be confirmed by readings taken . Medication can be a factor if mentioned in the Schedule of Ratings, Hyperparathyroidism rating with medication, Side effects of medication and VA benefits, reevaluate disabilities every 2 to 5 years, some cases in which the VA is not likely to reevaluate veterans health conditions or reduce or remove their benefits, general rating formula for mental disorders, the general rating formula for diseases of the eye, you may be eligible for VA benefits for these conditions. Your High Blood Pressure was caused or made worse by your active-duty military service, #3. All Rights Reserved. 25. Technically, you need more than half of your readings to meet the 10% criteria. You stated you take 20mg daily. 0000012136 00000 n You are not alone! Several conditions listed in the Schedule of Ratings list medication use in their rating criteria. In the decision, the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) mentioned that anti-acid medication provided some relief of symptoms.. VA Disability for High Blood Pressure ranges from 10% to 60%, with breaks at 20% and 40%, depending on the severity of your symptoms. This connection means that veterans who meet the criteria for being in a place where Agent Orange exposure was likely dont need to show any additional evidencecalled a medical nexusto establish a service connection to hypertension. Was the veterans initial diagnosis of Hypertension or Isolated Systolic Hypertension confirmed by blood pressure readings taken 2 or more times on at least 3 different days? Pre-hypertension is generally defined as systolic pressure between 120mm and 139mm and diastolic pressure from 80mm to 89mm.. Pre-hypertension is . Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. A blood pressure reading is given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and it has two numbers. The connection between the two can work the opposite way as well. yet assertive representation for our clients. The codes state that if continuous medication is required, the VA will give the minimum rating of 10%. VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs VA Ratings range from 0% all the way up to 100 . Thats because anxiety, or extreme stress and worry outside a persons control, increases a persons heart rate and can increase blood pressure. The levels range from daily use of high-dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications to intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy. 2. (2) The amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. His frustration with the8-step VA disability claims processled him to createVA Claims Insider,which provides U.S. military veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned for successfully submitting or re-submitting a winning VA disability compensation claim. His eBook, the9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claimhas been downloaded more than 300,000 times in the past three years and is the #1 rated free VA disability claims guide for veterans. Tricare treatment records also show elevated blood pressure, with diastolic pressures predominantly in the 80s and 90s and systolic pressures below 160. Talk to Us About Your Claim:(866) 232-5777. There is no specified time interval between readings, and they may be completed sequentially. Allen v. Brown, 7 Vet. Be glad you hypertension is under control. Top 5 Tips for fighting Veteran Hypertension - VA Claims Insider If youre trying to increase your VA rating for High Blood Pressure, you need to prove to the VA that your symptoms are now worse and warrant the higher rating criteria by law. We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you. We are Veterans helping Veterans!Become an Elite Member and work with our Veteran Coaches to get the rating you deserve! The CDC, another federal agency, accepts this definition. For VA rating purposes, the term hypertension or High Blood Pressure, means that the diastolic blood pressure is predominantly 90mm or greater, and isolated systolic hypertension means that the systolic blood pressure is predominantly 160mm or greater with a diastolic blood pressure of less than 90mm. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you are dealing with side effects from medication or treatment for a service-connected health condition or are experiencing side effects from the medication you took during military service, you may be eligible for VA benefits for these conditions. 0000007742 00000 n 0000012207 00000 n 10 percent rating: when your diastolic pressure is 100 to 109, or your systolic pressure is 160 to 199. 38 CFR 4.104 - Schedule of ratings - cardiovascular system. VA Disability for Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) | PTSD Lawyers When in doubt, the benefit is ALWAYS given to the veteran. The VA rates High Blood Pressure underCFR Title 38, Part 4, VA Schedule of Ratings, Diseases of the Arteries and Veins, Diagnostic Code 7101 Hypertension at 10%, 20%, 40%, or 60% depending upon the Frequency, Severity, and Duration of your symptoms. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Unfortunately, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common diagnosis among veterans. Hypertension is common in people with gout, a severe form of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in the body. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a common and critical condition. The CDC estimates that 47% of Americans have this disease and that more than 670,000 deaths in the United States had hypertension as a primary or contributing cause.. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. There are a variety of secondary conditions to Hypertension, to include High Blood Pressure secondary to Sleep Apnea, High Blood Pressure secondary to Kidney Disease, High Blood Pressure secondary to Thyroid, and High Blood Pressure secondary to the side effects of certain medications (more on that below). In my original claim filed last Dec I was awarded a 30% disability for an unknown anxiety disorder, however my high blood pressure claim was denied for not being service connected. #6. Woods and Woods, LLC, Veterans Disability Lawyer, Veterans Disability Benefits Attorneys Helping Veterans Nationwide, Published on August 31, 2022 by Mike Woods Last Updated on March 9, 2023. The lowest rating for the condition is 10%, and it lists "minimum evaluation for an individual with a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more who . I have high blood pressure that has been measured at 220/110 in a Dr's office. The veterans rating is based on blood pressure readings at that time, as it is presumed that the medication, if effective, is lowering the veterans blood pressure readings. His eBook, the9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claimhas been downloaded more than 300,000 times in the past three years and is the #1 rated free VA disability claims guide for veterans. But you may be eligible for other VA benefits. 0000011577 00000 n There is a group of raters who believe that PTSD is cured when you get treatment, that you arent disabled if you are taking insulin for diabetes, or that sleep apnea is gone once you start using a CPAP. You may also have another serious health condition that requires medical attention. In order to be eligible for a VA rating for hypertension, a veteran must meet three (3) criteria by law: If you think you have hypertension, but dont have a medical diagnosis,pick-up the phone and call the VA mental health facility nearest youto make an appointment right away! An attorney can also help you appeal a previous VA rating decision regarding hypertension or associated secondary disabilities, if necessary. Please complete this form to send us your message. This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. It could be helpful to have a VA-certified disability benefits lawyer take a second look. Medical diagnosis of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) in a medical record (Service Treatment Records, VA medical records, or private medical records), #2. Medication Side Effects & Secondary Service Connection I PTSD Lawyers #7. If thats you, it might help to have your doctor fill out a Disability Benefits Questionnaire diagnosing you with hypertension and documenting what you are currently doing to control it.