Editor’s note: This article is the first in a series of two about filing a service-connected disability claim for hypertension.
By Larry Dandridge
Hypertension (also called high blood pressure) is not called the “silent killer” for nothing. Left unchecked and untreated, hypertension can lead to life-threatening issues like heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. I know it because I have hypertension, and it is responsible for much of my Stage III kidney damage, and partially, along with Agent Orange, the cause of my heart disease.
Veterans need to seek medical care for hypertension and file for Service-Connected Disability Compensation if they are eligible. Veterans need to know that:
- High blood pressure can lead to serious health issues, such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Veterans (and anyone) with high blood pressure need to seek medical care if they have high blood pressure.
- According to Health Policy Today’s Feb. 18, 2025, article “Making Hypertension History for Veterans” (https://bit.ly/47WVaNF), veterans who have faced combat, had contact with Agent Orange, or had chronic exposure to military aircraft noise report higher rates of hypertension. And given the intense nature of active-duty service, high blood pressure often accompanies other symptoms for veterans, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health conditions.
- According to Health Policy Today’s Feb. 18, 2025, article “Making Hypertension History for Veterans” (https://bit.ly/47WVaNF), individuals with hypertension may experience a variety of symptoms, including dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath, and chest pain. In addition, these individuals are also at greater risk for other cardiovascular issues like heart attack, stroke, vision loss, and kidney disease. High blood pressure can also exacerbate pre-existing conditions that predominantly affect veterans, such as tinnitus and unmanaged anxiety disorder.
- According to the VA web page “The PACT ACT and Your VA Benefits” (https://bit.ly/46iTtZN), hypertension is on the VA’s presumptive list. If diagnosed within one year of discharge, it is considered a chronic condition presumed to be related to military service. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange and Gulf War veterans with undiagnosed illnesses or Medically Unexplained Chronic Multi-Symptom Illness (MUCMI) are also eligible for presumptive service connection under the PACT Act.
- If a veteran is already service-connected for conditions like PTSD, sleep apnea, diabetes, or kidney disease, and later develops high blood pressure, the veteran can file a Secondary Service-Connected Claim in accordance with the VA web page “How to File a VA Disability Claim” (https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/). Claims can be filed online, by mail, in person, by FAX, or with the help of a trained professional (A VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO), a VA-accredited Claims Agent, or a VA-accredited Attorney). Hypertension is often caused or aggravated by these conditions and the medications used to treat them. A strong Nexus letter from a military, VA, or private provider can help establish the link between PTSD, sleep apnea, diabetes, kidney disease, or other service-connected conditions.
- Understanding how to get a VA service-connected disability rating for hypertension is critical to accessing VA healthcare, benefits, and services.
What is hypertension?
Hypertension occurs when the force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is too high. For VA disability purposes, hypertension is defined as a condition where the diastolic blood pressure is predominantly 90 mmHg (90 millimeters of mercury, a measurement of blood pressure) or higher, or the systolic blood pressure is primarily 160 mmHg or higher with a diastolic pressure below 90 mmHg. To learn more about hypertension, visit https://bit.ly/481SluV.
VA hypertension rating
The VA rates hypertension (high blood pressure) under 38 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 4.104, Diagnostic Code 7101, based on the severity of your symptoms. The VA rates hypertension under Diagnostic Code 7101 from 10% to 60% with breaks at 20% and 40%, based on the severity of your symptoms:
- 10% rating: Diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or requiring continuous medication.
- 20% rating: Diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more.
- 40% rating: Diastolic pressure predominantly 120 or more.
- 60% rating: Diastolic pressure predominantly 130 or more.
A veteran’s blood pressure readings and the need for continuous medication determine the ratings.
What are the facts and symptoms of hypertension?
According to the American Heart Association web page “Understanding Blood Pressure Readings” (https://bit.ly/48wui7p):
- Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure.
- Measuring your blood pressure is the only way to know if you have it, because in most cases, there are no noticeable *symptoms for Normal, Elevated, Stage 1, or Stage 2 Hypertension, thus the name “silent killer.”
- Controlling high blood pressure can help prevent significant health problems.
- Only a doctor or other qualified medical professional can confirm a diagnosis of high blood pressure. Except for extremely high (called severe hypertension of Systolic Higher than 180 and/or Diastolic Higher than 120 or hypertensive emergency, where you have the higher than 180 and/or 120 pressures, you will not usually notice any symptoms.
- Symptoms of severe or hypertensive emergency hypertension may include chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, change of vision, or difficulty speaking.
- Other symptoms of hypertension may include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, nosebleeds, irregular heartbeat, and buzzing in the ears.
Headaches and hypertension?
According to the Cleveland Clinic web page “High Blood Pressure and Headaches: Is There a Link?” (https://bit.ly/4pBZY1a), the vast majority of people experience no symptoms from high blood pressure. It is likely that if your blood pressure spikes to an unusually high level, you may have symptoms, including a headache.
Chronic pain and high blood pressure
Medical News Today (https://bit.ly/3Vw0ct1) states that chronic pain can affect the mechanism that regulates blood pressure, causing blood pressure to become too high.
Inflammation and high blood pressure
Medical News Today (https://bit.ly/3Vw0ct1) states that tissue damage causes the body’s immune cells to release signaling molecules. These molecules promote the inflammatory process that allows the body to repair itself. However, chronic inflammation causes persistently high levels of inflammatory cytokines, which can affect the body’s blood vessels and kidney function. Because the blood vessels and kidneys play a major role in regulating blood pressure, impairments in either can lead to high blood pressure.
Continued next week.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Goodwill Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing freelance writer with The Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
