Some veterans Ive spoken with recall being told that Agent Orange was safe enough to drink. Not only is this wrong, but it couldnt be further from the truth. Please complete this form to send us your message. 0000006309 00000 n Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is rated underCFR 38, Part 4, VA Schedule of Ratings, Diseases of the Arteries and Veins, Diagnostic Code 7101. 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. 3H$LQP7zArO`H] j/:`l#u (4c[PIKAh4 B!L[t`Y\`4$P3aan'(lB %k pf` Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. Is High Blood Pressure a VA Presumptive Condition? #1. 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. 0000003350 00000 n Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. 0000005309 00000 n List of VA Secondary Conditions to Hypertension. To be eligible for High Blood Pressure VA Rating, a veteran must meet three (3) criteria by law: If you think you have High Blood Pressure, but dont have a medical diagnosis,pick-up the phone and call the VA health facility nearest youto make an appointment right away! A veteran will continue to qualify for VA benefits regardless of any alleviating affects of medication on their condition as long as the diagnostic code for the condition does not specifically mention medication and the veteran otherwise meets the criteria to receive benefits for the disability. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 0000002293 00000 n Top 72 Federal Veteran Benefits From A to Z (2024 Edition), How to Download Your VA Benefit Letters Online (5-Step Process). Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 Does the veterans Hypertension or Isolated Systolic Hypertension impact his/her ability to work? Already working with us? Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! You also can use a Disability Benefits Questionnaire to help your claim. Copyright 2023 Woods and Woods, LLC | PO Box 1287 Evansville, IN 47706. The following explains conditions secondary to hypertension. 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. This is likely not recorded in your medical records in this highly specific way, so the best thing to do is to take your blood pressure at home and keep a log so you can provide it during your exam. 0000004237 00000 n Since that time, we have provided compassionate The ratings for hypertension are 10%, 20%, 40%, and 60% depending on your high blood pressure severity. All Rights Reserved. These medications can cause side effects, including: Insomnia. Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 The VA rates fibromyalgia under diagnostic code 5025. 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. How Do I Increase My VA Disability Rating for High Blood Pressure? For high blood pressure (hypertension) specifically, the VA will assess your ability to perform physical and mental activities, as well as your overall quality of life. Making the Sausage: Heres what you need to know about new VA Claims regulations. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Veterans who have symptoms despite surgery or arent candidates for surgery but require continuous medication to manage their condition are rated at 10%. How Does Taking Medication Affect My VA Disability? Also, veterans over the age of 55 are rarely sent for reexaminations. endstream endobj 1521 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/Index[91 1390]/Length 55/Size 1481/Type/XRef/W[1 1 1]>>stream Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from theUnited States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State Universitys Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class). While we still have our home base in Florida, High Blood Pressure is often referred to as a silent killer because you typically dont know that you have it, and yet, its a significant risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Headaches. An attorney can also help you appeal a previous VA rating decision regarding hypertension or associated secondary disabilities, if necessary. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. When the VA determines your disability rating, they look at your systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. 0000010777 00000 n They did good by me. 0000004565 00000 n Adding Hypertension for VA Healthcare Benefits After the PACT Act. For a limited time, you can book a free, no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts. 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. we represent clients nationwide. 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. Keep in mind the VA checks were after being on medication for high blood pressure for over 4 years. 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. This acid build up also is the cause of hypertension. The tests for hypertension require readings to be taken two or more times on at least three different days. 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 to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! For many of these conditions, the need for medication helps to demonstrate the severity of the disability. The condition often comes with sleep issues, headache, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and mental distress. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. 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. #7. 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. I have high blood pressure that has been measured at 220/110 in a Dr's office. Learn more about how VA Claims Insider can help you get the rating you DESERVE!Speak with a VA Disability expert and start for FREE! 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. 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. If a veteran suffers from hypertension, though, chances are that he is on 2 or 3 or 4 (or more) pills. Talk to Us About Your Claim:(866) 232-5777. VA Disability Ratings for High Blood Pressure. Between the years of 1962-1971, American troops dumped more than 19 million gallons of herbicide on vegetation in lands around Vietnam, Laos, and nearby areas, in order to remove forest, VA Disability Compensation: Veterans of the Vietnam Era and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma UPDATE: As of January 2020,Blue Water claimsare being processed. <<8E4B8C960726A8499E107803A9E016BA>]/Prev 425860/XRefStm 1837>> If yes, provide the blood pressure readings used to establish initial diagnosis. If the VA denies your benefits, you may want to file an appeal. 20 percent rating: when your diastolic pressure is 110 to 119, or your systolic pressure (the top number) is 200 or higher. *H?x3^|H10F1M/ ; This makes good sense, because if your disability doesnt affect you, the VA wont compensate you for that condition. However, the law is not always written this way and sometimes, for good reason. The severe form of IBS is rated at 30% and the moderate form of IBS is rated by the VA at 10%. If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. In this post, we will be taking a deep dive into the legal and medical requirements for how to get aVA Rating for Hypertension. TDIU benefits are for veterans who can no longer work because of their service-connected disabilities. You may also have another serious health condition that requires medical attention. Call today or fill out our online contact form to get started. A 60% hypertension rating could qualify a veteran for total disability individual unemployability benefits. However, Ischemic Heart Disease is on the Agent Orange presumptive list (also called Coronary Heart Disease), and is rated under Diagnostic Code (DC)7005. The problem is, a lot of Veterans believe them, because it sounds pretty reasonable. 2. of . Brian isalso the CEOofMilitary Disability Made Easy, which is the worlds largest free searchable database for all things related to DoD disability and VA disability claims and has served more than 4,600,000 military members and veterans since its founding in 2013. You may be owed compensation. 0000012207 00000 n If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Fill out the short form below to contact us. <<, 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.. 0000003992 00000 n According to the Mayo Clinic, High Blood Pressure occurs when the long-term force of high blood pressure against your artery walls leads to a variety of health problems, such as heart disease or stroke. The issue was settled by a 2012 decision of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and in general, the answer is no. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. 203, San Jose, CA 95134 How to File a Claim on VA.gov (step-by-step)! Asthma, which often requires medication, is rated under diagnostic code 6602. 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%. When in doubt, the benefit is ALWAYS given to the veteran. Apr 20, 2017 #6. ), Ethnicity (African American and Hispanic people are more likely to develop it. 1522 0 obj <>stream The CDC, another federal agency, accepts this definition. To understand why this is harmful, imagine a hose filled with a pressure much higher than it was rated for. 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 conditions are secondary to hypertension? 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 2019 and 2020 I received numerous award letters in my favor and two were backdated to 2011. When there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence (50/50) regarding any issue material to the determination of a matter, the Secretary shall give the benefit of the doubt to the claimant. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a common and critical condition. Hypertension or "High Blood Pressure" is rated under CFR 38, Part 4, VA Schedule of Ratings, Diseases of the Arteries and Veins, Diagnostic Code 7101. Let's take a look at a Sample VA Disability Claim: The connection between the two can work the opposite way as well. 2. There are some cases in which the VA is not likely to reevaluate veterans health conditions or reduce or remove their benefits. Establishing service connection on a secondary basis requires evidence sufficient to show (1) Medical diagnosis of Hypertension and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (2) that the Hypertension was either (a) proximately caused by or (b) proximately aggravated by a service-connected disability. Signup to never miss a beat with special offers, blog updates, exclusive trainings, and more delivered right to your inbox! 2E. 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. Disabilities labeled as static, stable, or permanent are usually not scheduled for reexamination, nor are disabilities rated at the minimum. However, some veterans may be concerned that if the medication works well, they may no longer qualify for benefits or a certain disability rating. High blood pressure can occur for years without any . Independent providers and C&P examiners must consider and give weight to the veterans self-reported symptoms when completing their DBQ for Hypertension. Kidney disease also is common among veterans. Persistent and recurring symptoms of Hypertension (Severity of Symptoms). Cruiser. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Central Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 #1. Felicia W. - An Army veteran from South Carolina. Passed into law in August of 2022, the Honoring our PACT Act piece of VA legislation added hypertension to its list of diagnoses presumed to be caused by exposure to the tactical herbicide known as Agent Orange (AO), making eligibility for disability benefits much easier. I do not response to Individual claim and legal questions, although I do catalog them for post / video ideas. hA 04q\GcwzC. 0000018752 00000 n These focus more on specific BP parameters and, to a large degree, medication guidelines. 0000010049 00000 n 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 . #6. San Jose, CA: 2880 Zanker Road, Ste. It is explained as continuous medication required for control.. 0000003110 00000 n The VA factors medication into the general rating formula for mental disorders to provide a rating for PTSD. Already working with us? In the appeal decision, the CAVC explained that within the Schedule of Ratings, the criteria for rating some disabilities includes a mention of medication. Learn more about us, Veterans Disability Claim Hypertension is a leading cause of stroke. 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). not. People with hypertension may worry about their physical health, causing anxiety. Anxiety. Let's talk about your VA disability benefits. These two numbers will affect your final VA disability rating for hypertension: High blood pressure (hypertension) symptoms vary from veteran to veteran. In this guide, well explore how to get a VA Rating for High Blood Pressure even if youve already filed a VA claim or been denied benefits. 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. VA Disability for High Blood Pressure ranges from 10% to 60%, with breaks at 20% and 40%, depending on the severity of your symptoms. Hypertension VA Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation Page . Of course, every once in a while, we would come across the Admin or Training Chief who acted as if the money to buy Skilcraft pens remember those things was coming out of his/her own pocket. Navigating the rules about how medications affect VA benefits and figuring out if your rating decision applied the rules correctly can be challenging. 1,833 58. Pittsburgh, PA: 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235 Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices Copyright 2023 VA Claims Insider, LLC. 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. Medical evidence must link the primary and secondary service-connected impairments, or the secondary impairment must link to another service-connected health concern. 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. You're not alone. The VA does have the option to reevaluate disabilities every 2 to 5 years and assign updated ratings. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_5" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune before 1987? Technically, you need more than half of your readings to meet the 10% criteria. Sometimes veterans think that not taking their morning medications might result in a higher blood pressure during the exam and, thus, a better VA rating. 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. startxref 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. 0000085926 00000 n As a Nurse Practitioner and VA C&P Examiner, Ive served many veterans exposed to Agent Orange who are seeking disability compensation for hypertension. Thus, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established a list of presumptive conditions to support veterans suffering from those effects. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is when the force of blood flowing through your arteries is too strong. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is common among veterans due to combat exposure and service-related injuries. If most of your recent blood pressure readings have shown a diastolic reading of 100 or greater simply request a re-evaluation and provide VA with those medical records. The tests for hypertension require readings to be taken two or more times on at least three different days. %PDF-1.7 % 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 . If you receive a 0% disability rating for a service-connected condition, we call this a non-compensable disability. Can the VA consider whether your medications are providing some relief when determining your degree of disability? Hyperparathyroidism is rated under diagnostic code 7904. VA Claims Insider Submits Statement to Senate VA Committee: How to Protect Veterans From Financial Exploitation of Their VA Benefits, Top 72 Federal Veteran Benefits From A to Z (2024 Edition). 0000008255 00000 n The ratings for hypertension are 10%, 20%, 40%, and 60% depending on your high blood pressure severity. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. 0000084988 00000 n 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. 0000018593 00000 n Two numbers measure blood pressure. Allen v. Brown, 7 Vet. Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Business Development Representatives having gone through our programs. It means you can't get disability compensation (payments) for this condition. 1481 42 The possible assigned ratings are as follows: 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, or a 100% disability rating for diabetes. The VA rating for high blood pressure is anywhere from 10% to 60%, depending on how high the veterans blood pressure readings are.

Cole Swider Parents, Italian Festival Near Me, Betty Robinson Steve Pemberton, Articles V