According to VA medical research, hypertension is one of the most common chronic condition in veterans, affecting more than 37% of the veteran population. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 Wondering how to service connect your Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)? 0000002293 00000 n Nathan Costiuc, RN, APRN, FNP-BC Updated: November 4, 2022. Does the veterans treatment plan include taking continuous medication for Hypertension or Isolated Systolic Hypertension? If you dont have your own blood pressure machine, you can get a reading taken at any local pharmacy. The schedule states a veteran with a formal diagnosis and symptoms that are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication will receive a 0% rating. Veterans with hypertension may receive a VA disability rating of 60%, 40%, 20% or 10%. VA rating for High Blood Pressure. <<8E4B8C960726A8499E107803A9E016BA>]/Prev 425860/XRefStm 1837>> Allen v. Brown, 7 Vet. Note (3):Evaluate hypertension separately from hypertensive heart disease and other types of heart disease. 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.. As a Nurse Practitioner and VA C&P Examiner, Ive served many veterans exposed to Agent Orange who are seeking disability compensation for hypertension. 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. Lower ratings for the condition also could combine with ratings for secondary conditions or other service-connected disabilities to qualify for the benefit as long as the combined rating is at least 70% and one of the conditions is rated at least 40%. 0000018752 00000 n Hypertension is no joke, and is often referred to as a silent killer because it is the most common risk factor among veterans with stroke. Thus, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established a list of presumptive conditions to support veterans suffering from those effects. 0000003992 00000 n #5. The hypertension ratings appear to require (understandably) high blood pressure readings. Required fields are marked *. It measures the pressure as blood leaves the heart. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! The connection is because of stress hormones your body releases when you stop breathing. At the end of 2021, 1.2 million veterans received VA benefits for PTSD. It's that simple. But you may be eligible for other VA benefits. For these Vietnam War-era veterans, qualifying for Agent Orange exposure may mean you: As long as there is sufficient evidence that you qualify for a hypertension diagnosis, they presume that it was Agent Orange that caused it. disability claim takes an average of 95 days to decide the validity of the submitted request. Copyright 2023 Hill & Ponton, P.A.. All Rights Reserved. You're not alone. There are 3 primary ways a veteran can get a VA disability rating for High Blood Pressure: #1: Direct Service Connection for High Blood Pressure with a VA rating of 10%, 20%, 40%, or 60%. As former service men and women, were also battle-hardened veterans of bureaucratic warfare its just a function of life in the military. 0000008479 00000 n The systolic blood pressure is the top number. 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. Be glad you hypertension is under control. Medical diagnosis of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) in a medical record (Service Treatment Records, VA medical records, or private medical records), #2. xref The general rating formula for heart disease also mentions medication in the lowest rating of 10%. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is when the force of blood flowing through your arteries is too strong. In this post, well reveal and explain how to download copies of your VA benefit letters online. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. For example, if you have 4 symptoms of the 10% rating level, 5 symptoms of the 30% level, and 2 symptoms of the 50% level, the preponderance of your symptoms is at the 30% rating criteria. ), Ethnicity (African American and Hispanic people are more likely to develop it. 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. Note (1):Hypertension or isolated systolic hypertension must be confirmed by readings taken two or more times on at least three different days. The readings must be 160/90 or higher for hypertension. There are a variety of hypertension secondary disability conditions as well, to include Hypertension secondary to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Hypertension secondary to Kidney Disease, Hypertension secondary to Thyroid, and Hypertension secondary to side effects of certain medications. Veterans taking medication for their service-connected disability may be concerned they will lose their VA benefits if medicine improves their condition. 1. I talk to Woods and Woods about my issues in 2018 they took my case as a result. Prepare for the VAs unusual definition of hypertension. How Does Agent Orange Cause High Blood Pressure? Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Business Development Representatives having gone through our programs. 0000011577 00000 n Does the veteran have any other pertinent physical findings, complications, conditions, signs, or symptoms related to the conditions listed in the diagnosis section above? This means an in-service injury, disease, or event caused your High Blood Pressure. If the veteran does have a diagnosis of High Blood Pressure that conforms to VA rating standards, indicate the type, ICD Code, and date of diagnosis. we had a real interest in fulfilling the training or supply requirements of our units and our higher-ups had a requirement to providethose resources. Felicia W. - An Army veteran from South Carolina. 2. of . VA rating for hypertension secondary to PTSD, VA rating for hypertension secondary to anxiety, VA rating for hypertension secondary to sleep apnea, VA compensation for gout secondary to hypertension, VA disability for chronic kidney disease secondary to hypertension, VA rating for hypertension while on medication. Hypertension is blood pressure above 140/90. 0000012136 00000 n Technically, you need more than half of your readings to meet the 10% criteria. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. CURRENT BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS (SUFFICIENT IF VETERAN HAS A PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED DIAGNOSIS OF . A blood pressure reading is given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and it has two numbers. The VA does have the option to reevaluate disabilities every 2 to 5 years and assign updated ratings. However, the law is not always written this way and sometimes, for good reason. Therefore, the VA is not allowed to consider the relief it provides when determining the degree of disability. yet assertive representation for our clients. The problem is, a lot of Veterans believe them, because it sounds pretty reasonable. 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. Thats because anxiety, or extreme stress and worry outside a persons control, increases a persons heart rate and can increase blood pressure. 401-331-6300. The veteran should be seated comfortably with back and feet supported. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! These medications are necessary because they help keep hypertension from causing a more severe medical issue. Therefore, when the veteran is already on medication to control hypertension, the VA reviews the medical records that resulted in the medication being prescribed. Your email address will not be published. Medical diagnosis of High Blood Pressure, in a medical record (Service Treatment Records, VA medical records, or private medical records), #2. You're not alone. HYPERTENSION DISABILITY BENEFITS QUESTIONNAIRE. Yes, a veteran can receive disability benefits for high blood pressure, even if theyre on medication. The issue was settled by a 2012 decision of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and in general, the answer is no. Also, veterans over the age of 55 are rarely sent for reexaminations. When in doubt, the benefit is ALWAYS given to the veteran. But the VAs disability process only recognizes a diagnosis of hypertension when you have: You can still get a formal VA hypertension diagnosis if youre already on medication for high blood pressure, so this really only affects people who are trying to control their high blood pressure without medication. Each of these veterans benefits have different eligibility criteria so be Common Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure: VA Rating for High Blood Pressure: Basic Eligibility Criteria. 0000006607 00000 n List of VA Secondary Conditions to Hypertension. For the VA to consider disability benefits for hypertension, you must file a claim. This is not only untrue (they look throughout years of BP readings in your medical records, not just the day of), but it can be dangerous. The condition often comes with sleep issues, headache, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and mental distress. A private physician can complete the form for you. Having said that, every once in a while, you run across a rating official who is looking for reasons to deny or reduce your claim rather than reasons to grant what you rate. Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 VA Disability Ratings for High Blood Pressure. VA disability for medication side effects is common for veterans who take antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and antipsychotics. Since that time, we have provided compassionate We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Hypertension is a leading cause of stroke. The courts further likened the reasonable doubt rule as akin to the principle in baseball that the tie goes to the runner.. It currently handles claims of exposure in these locations on a case-by-case basis: Various conditions are secondary to hypertension. Apneic episodes (when you stop breathing) from Sleep Apnea produce surges in systolic and diastolic pressure that keep mean blood pressure levels elevated at night. Medication plays an essential role in controlling the symptoms of PTSD and other mental disorders. This can lead to several life-threatening medical problems, such as heart failure, kidney failure, and dementia. If you experience high blood pressure that you think connects to your military service, either on its own or secondarily, you deserve VA disability compensation. Yes, you can get a VA rating for high blood pressure, more commonly known as hypertension in the medical community. 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. How to Hire an Attorney For Your VA Claim or Appeal. You may be owed compensation. 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. There are some cases in which the VA is not likely to reevaluate veterans health conditions or reduce or remove their benefits. Within that framework, then, there are ACC/AHA Guidelines specific to HTN. Already working with us? Philadelphia, PA: 1 International Plaza, Suite 550, Philadelphia, PA, 19113 The VA rates asthma between 10% and 100%, and every criteria level mentions medication use. Woods and Woods has helped thousands of veterans across the country receive the VA benefits they deserve. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. A 60% hypertension rating could qualify a veteran for total disability individual unemployability benefits. Highlights include the following[4]: Accurate BP measurement is critical. 0000018823 00000 n On the other hand, there are some folks at the VA that act like THEY are having to pay your benefits out of their paycheck. 40 percent rating: when your diastolic pressure is 120 to 129. The VA rates hypertensive vascular disease under diagnostic code 7101. Examiners are looking for sufficient medical evidence to substantiate your hypertension. Does the veteran have a diagnosis of Hypertension or Isolated Systolic Hypertension based on the following criteria? The VA rates veterans with hypothyroidism at either a 30% or 100% disability rating. It measures the pressure when the heart fills with blood. Its possible for your Hypertension to be caused or made worse by another service connected disability for secondary service connection, and vice versa. With prescribed medication, our hypothetical Veterans condition moderates from a severe form of the disease to a milder form. 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. 0 While we still have our home base in Florida, Generally, the more severe your disability, the higher the VA rating youll receive. It is explained as "continuous medication required for control." Hypertension rating with medication. They got me 100% permanent and total.. Many different medications for PTSD can cause disruptive side effects. How Does Taking Medication Affect My VA Disability? Your Hypertension was caused or made worse by your active-duty military service (Nexus for service connection) OR by another service-connected disability for secondary service connection, #3. Already working with us? The Diagnostic Criteria in the VA Rating Schedule for Irritable Bowel Syndrome does not specifically list the effects of medication. The VA uses diagnostic codes to classify the type and severity of a disability. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721, Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801 It could be helpful to have a VA-certified disability benefits lawyer take a second look. 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. %%EOF The VA rates angle-closure glaucoma under diagnostic code 6012 and open-angle glaucoma under diagnostic code 6013. trailer Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. Independent providers and C&P examiners must consider and give weight to the veterans self-reported symptoms when completing their DBQ for Hypertension. 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. What is the Reasonable Doubt Rule for High Blood Pressure? When a person has kidney disease, the kidneys stop removing waste and extra fluid from the blood. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. Tucson, AZ: One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor, Tucson, AZ, 85701 can be a cause and a consequence of hypertension. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. Sleep Apnea rarely goes away, and its hard toreverse diabetes once your kidneys start to fail. Veterans Court reminds the VA: the BVA must adjudicate the logically related informal claim. Please, if you have any of these symptoms, go see a doctor right away! It lists Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a CAUSE of secondary hypertension, with resistant hypertension being one of the clinical indications. The levels range from daily use of high-dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications to intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy. The VA Rater will select the disability percentage evaluation based on a preponderance of the symptoms.. NOTE: ALSO complete appropriate questionnaires for hypertension-related complications, if any (such as VA Form 21-0960J-1, Kidney Conditions (Nephrology) Disability Benefits Questionnaire , if renal insufficiency is attributable to hypertension.). If you need an advocate to review your previous ratings to determine if it was under evaluated, call us at 251-343-1111 or 1-800-332-1529. The VA's ratings for hypertension are covered in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 38, 4.104, diagnostic code 7101. ), 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. You only pay us if we win. t\W%#QpBUUH#d ur5(0kZhy\C|>dJ HdUO wDKVF";6y,*l n@C. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. a disability for VA purposes. In 2012, the CAVC ruled in the case of Jones v. Shinseki that the VA must rate a veterans disability without including the effects of medication unless the Schedule of Ratings explicitly mentioned medicine in the diagnostic code for the condition. Hyperparathyroidism is rated under diagnostic code 7904. 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. Persistent and recurring symptoms of High Blood Pressure (Severity of Symptoms) to include how the disability negatively impacts your work, life, and social functioning, Hypertension secondary to Weight Gain Obesity as Interim Link, Hypertension secondary to Hyperthyroidism. When have you seen the VA use improvement due to medication as an excuse to give a lower rating? The VA has a responsibility to Help you Get the Highest SupportableRating inYour VA Disability Claim. This communication with the firm or any member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. As part of the 2022 PACT Act, which expands benefits for veterans exposed to toxins during service, hypertension was added as a presumptive condition for Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Is High Blood Pressure a VA Presumptive Condition? Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 0000004565 00000 n Generally, blood pressure is determined in two ways: The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. 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. It will require them to provide medication documentation of their original blood pressure readings that caused the physician to prescribe the blood pressure medication. Navigating the rules about how medications affect VA benefits and figuring out if your rating decision applied the rules correctly can be challenging. Kidney disease also is common among veterans. The examining physician will schedule readings be taken two or more times on at least three different days. hb```b``cd`c`bd@ AV(^ro4T' euCSWX c6#NA@O$O Cruiser. Hypertension is common in people with gout, a severe form of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in the body. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. No, High Blood Pressure is not currently on the VA presumptive list. 38 USCA 5107; 38 CFR 3.102; see also Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. If the diagnostic code for your condition does not mention medication, andwith or without ityou meet the criteria outlined in the Schedule of Ratings for benefits for your service-connected disability, you will qualify for those benefits. Describe the history, including onset and course, of the veterans High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) condition? New Rule allows Presumptive Service Connection for Veterans particulate matter (burn pit) claims. That being said, if service connection is granted and your BP remains under control with meds your rating will be 0%. It appeared to him that he met the criteria for a 30% rating, but the VA denied his request for an increase from 10%. Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. 1481 42 2. j@ V#,:70e150D1+0{00017(:0,X:. 0}l ~`4% The following are a list of common questions asked at a C&P exam for High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), based on theDBQ for Hypertension. 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. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The possible assigned ratings are as follows: 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, or a 100% disability rating for diabetes. If left untreated, hypertension can damage blood vessels and overwork the heart. In general, the more severe your symptoms, the higher the VA rating youll receive. The main issue with Agent Orange was its contamination with a chemical called 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the most toxic dioxin currently known. The diastolic is the bottom number. You may be owed compensation. The average adult blood pressure is 120/80. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) is rated underCFR 38, Part 4, VA Schedule of Ratings, Diseases of the Arteries and Veins, Diagnostic Code 7101. Lets take a look at a Sample VA Disability Claim: Your email address will not be published.
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