Lets say the VA gives the Vet a rating of 10%, claiming that the Veteransmedication limits her symptoms. In the Jones v. Shinseki case, Jones suffered from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Washington, D.C.: 1776 I Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, D.C 20006 When this binding occurs, the arteries have difficulty responding to the bodys natural signals and instructions to decrease blood pressure. CFR 38, Part 4, VA Schedule of Ratings, Diseases of the Arteries and Veins, Diagnostic Code 7101. Our firm was founded in 1986 in Orlando, Florida. 1481 42 According to the VA guidelines, you may receive a disability rating of 10% to 60% for hypertension: 10% rating -When your diastolic pressure is 100 to 109, or your systolic pressure is 160 to 199 20% rating -If your diastolic pressure is 110 to 119, or your systolic pressure is 200 or higher Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Examiners are looking for sufficient medical evidence to substantiate your hypertension. The #1 best way to increase your VA rating for high blood pressure is to have medical evidence showing the worsening of your symptoms over time. 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. Felicia W. - An Army veteran from South Carolina. The ratings for hypertension are 10%, 20%, 40%, and 60% depending on your high blood pressure severity. #5. Talk to Us About Your Claim:(866) 232-5777. 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. 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! not. As a Certified C&P Examiner, he works to help veterans better understand the VA Disability system, especially from a clinical perspective. 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. Does the veteran have a diagnosis of Hypertension or Isolated Systolic Hypertension based on the following criteria? The following is an incomplete list of examples of when the VA can consider the effects of medication when assigning a disability rating. Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time. Sleep Apnea rarely goes away, and its hard toreverse diabetes once your kidneys start to fail. Factors that cause high blood pressure include: The VA rates hypertension using diagnostic code 7101, listed as hypertensive vascular disease, in the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Note (2):Evaluate hypertension due to aortic insufficiency or hyperthyroidism, which is usually the isolated systolic type, as part of the condition causing it rather than by a separate evaluation. Again, the VA presumptive list does NOT include high blood pressure, peripheral vascular disease, heart attack, or stroke. 0000085926 00000 n New Rule allows Presumptive Service Connection for Veterans particulate matter (burn pit) claims. It's that simple. Veterans with fibromyalgia experience pain all over their bodies. Richmond, VA: 7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA, 23225 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2016 - VeteransLawBlog.org - All Rights Reserved | Terms & Conditions | Legal Disclaimer, The Veterans Law Blog is NOT a law firm. 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. This means theres a 50/50 chance. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. 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. Veterans who have symptoms despite surgery or arent candidates for surgery but require continuous medication to manage their condition are rated at 10%. Anxiety. 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. startxref But, until then, the VA cannot deny higher ratings based on relief from medications if the code doesnt mention medication. Wondering how to service connect your Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)? Generally, blood pressure is determined in two ways: The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. Shinseki (2012), the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) held that veterans are entitled to disability ratings based on their unmedicated condition (i.e., the higher disability evaluation) if the effects of the medication are not explicitly mentioned in the rating schedule. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. It measures the pressure as blood leaves the heart. If you receive a 0% disability rating for a service-connected condition, we call this a non-compensable disability. 0000002046 00000 n If yes, provide the blood pressure readings used to establish initial diagnosis. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. There is no need to take lying or standing blood pressures. You could be having a hypertensive crisis that could lead to aheart attackorstroke. 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. Your high blood pressure is severe if its more than 180/120. Several conditions listed in the Schedule of Ratings list medication use in their rating criteria. The VA rating for high blood pressure is anywhere from 10% to 60%, depending on how high the veterans blood pressure readings are. 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 two . 2. of . While many other health conditions, like diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer, have long had presumptive condition status, this represents a major victory in a long history of working to see high blood pressure added to this Agent Orange list for Vietnam War vets, thus allowing them access to certain VA benefits. List of VA Secondary Conditions to Hypertension. The #1 best way to increase your VA rating for High Blood Pressure is to have objective medical evidence to show your symptoms have worsened over time. Veterans may see a loss or decrease in VA benefits if the condition (without taking into consideration the beneficial effects of medication) improves. Once the VA processes your claim for benefits, you will receive a confirmation or denial. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to stay updated on VA news, policy changes, and more. Diagnostic codes are specifically for disabilities that can be service connected, which means caused or aggravated by military . Click Go Elite Now below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes. All Rights Reserved. 0000003992 00000 n Phone. The examining physician will schedule readings be taken two or more times on at least three different days. Did the VA Benefit of the Doubt Rule just disappear? A C&P exam for Hypertension involves a series of verbal questions, to include a physical examination with a stethoscope (listening to your heart and breathing), and diagnostic testing using a sphygmomanometer, which consists of a stethoscope, arm cuff, dial, pump, and valve. People with hypertension may worry about their physical health, causing anxiety. Already working with us? 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. Is High Blood Pressure a VA Presumptive Condition? The systolic blood pressure is the top number. Medical diagnosis of High Blood Pressure, in a medical record (Service Treatment Records, VA medical records, or private medical records), #2. 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. How Do I Get VA Disability for High Blood Pressure? 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 rates asthma between 10% and 100%, and every criteria level mentions medication use. As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and Im on a mission to change it. These medications can cause side effects, including: Insomnia. Your High Blood Pressure was caused or made worse by your active-duty military service, #3. 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. Therefore, it's directly related to your military service. More than half of individuals with hypertension experience it, which causes sleep deprivation. Portland, OR: 650 N. E. Holladay Street, Suite 1600, Portland, OR, 97232 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. We are sorry that this post was not as useful for you! The condition often comes with sleep issues, headache, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and mental distress. Sleep deprivation increases the risk of hypertension. 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). 0000000016 00000 n 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. VA Disability for High Blood Pressure ranges from 10% to 60%, with breaks at 20% and 40%, depending on the severity of your symptoms. Thus, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established a list of presumptive conditions to support veterans suffering from those effects. 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.. Since that time, we have provided compassionate VA uses 38 CFR 4.119, Diagnostic Code 7913 for diabetes mellitus type 2. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) is rated underCFR 38, Part 4, VA Schedule of Ratings, Diseases of the Arteries and Veins, Diagnostic Code 7101. 2. In addition, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recently released new guidelines that describe Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a relatively fixed cardiovascular disease risk factor in patients with hypertension. 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. An attorney can also help you appeal a previous VA rating decision regarding hypertension or associated secondary disabilities, if necessary. j@ V#,:70e150D1+0{00017(:0,X:. 0}l ~`4% 0000007556 00000 n 0000003110 00000 n The ratings for hypertension are 10%, 20%, 40%, and 60% depending on your high blood pressure severity. The acid crystalizes and builds up in the persons joints. App. Remember the VA disability compensation system provides veterans with tax-free monetary relief for theaverage impairment of earnings capacity. total disability individual unemployability benefits, presumptive condition for Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange, presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange, VA Disability Benefits for Agent Orange Exposure, secondary service-connected disability rating, VA Disability Ratings for Kidney Diseases and Secondary Conditions, Circulatory System VA Disability Articles, Im sure I would not have received these awards if it wasnt for Woods and Woods, 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, Disease of the arteries in the heart, arms, or legs, Age (Many people develop high blood pressure as they age. 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. t\W%#QpBUUH#d ur5(0kZhy\C|>dJ HdUO wDKVF";6y,*l n@C. But, when it comes to hypertension, some veterans may already be on medication to help control the issue and level out their blood pressure. The issue was settled by a 2012 decision of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and in general, the answer is no. To understand why this is harmful, imagine a hose filled with a pressure much higher than it was rated for. The most trusted name in education-based resources for Veterans. 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. 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. #1. Unfortunately, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common diagnosis among veterans. Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider. How to Hire an Attorney For Your VA Claim or Appeal. Over time, this could theoretically contribute to the onset of clinically-significant hypertension. Estimate your 2023 VA Rating & Compensation for FREE! You also can use a Disability Benefits Questionnaire to help your claim. The VA factors medication into the general rating formula for mental disorders to provide a rating for PTSD. The VA rates veterans with hypothyroidism at either a 30% or 100% disability rating. 401-331-6300. Adding Hypertension for VA Healthcare Benefits After the PACT Act. Woods and Woods has helped thousands of veterans across the country receive the VA benefits they deserve. 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. Heres a list of common secondary conditions to Hypertension: What Should I Expect at a VA C&P Exam for Hypertension? Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Business Development Representatives having gone through our programs. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sleep apnea increases your risk of hypertension, with about half of people with apnea having high blood pressure. Dear Veteran, Heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims: According to our data, 8/10 (80%) of veterans reading this message right now are underrated by the VA. Therefore, the VA is not allowed to consider the relief it provides when determining the degree of disability. To understand why this is the case, read on. Allen v. Brown, 7 Vet. The readings must be 160/90 or higher for hypertension. Within that framework, then, there are ACC/AHA Guidelines specific to HTN. The tests for hypertension require readings to be taken two or more times on at least three different days. 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. Need a Medical Nexus Letter for Hypertension secondary to Sleep Apnea? 20 percent rating: when your diastolic pressure is 110 to 119, or your systolic pressure (the top number) is 200 or higher. If youre stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you! If yes, describe the impact of the veterans hypertension or isolated systolic hypertension, providing one or more examples. Health issues associated with high blood pressure include: Sleep apnea can be a cause and a consequence of hypertension. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you. The VA will likely request a Compensation and Pension exam. I am sick, and the VA was stalling. TDIU benefits are for veterans who can no longer work because of their service-connected disabilities. 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. 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. The possible assigned ratings are as follows: 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, or a 100% disability rating for diabetes. Your email address will not be published. They got me 100% permanent and total.. 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%. Cruiser. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If accepted into our ELITE membership program, youll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 3H$LQP7zArO`H] j/:`l#u (4c[PIKAh4 B!L[t`Y\`4$P3aan'(lB %k pf` The VA Rater will select the disability percentage evaluation based on a preponderance of the symptoms.. While we still have our home base in Florida, 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. As of December 2018, veterans claiming benefits for hypertension may receive a disability rating of 10% with monthly compensation of $140.05, while a disability rating of 20% may receive 276.84 per month. We are Veterans helping Veterans!Become an Elite Member and work with our Veteran Coaches to get the rating you deserve! Typically, this means medical evidence of high blood pressure readings above normal over an extended period. You may also have another serious health condition that requires medical attention. Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. What is the Reasonable Doubt Rule for High Blood Pressure? Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720, Satellite Offices I take 130mg daily, BP is controlled and my rating is 0%. As most of you know, the very first step for any VA disability claimis that you have to be able to show that you suffer from a current disability.. Regulation Update: VA Ratings for Kidney Disease and Renal Dysfunction. (2) The amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. 0000018558 00000 n VA rating for High Blood Pressure. 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. If left untreated, hypertension can damage blood vessels and overwork the heart. 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. 0000002293 00000 n Also, veterans over the age of 55 are rarely sent for reexaminations. 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. ), 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 could be having a hypertensive crisis that could lead to aheart attackorstroke. Its FREE to get started, so click Go Elite Now below to complete our 3-step intake process. The Diagnostic Criteria in the VA Rating Schedule for Irritable Bowel Syndrome does not specifically list the effects of medication. Please call for an appointment before visiting: Mail Processing Center: P.O. 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%. 0000007742 00000 n 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. The VA uses diagnostic codes to classify the type and severity of a disability. #7. The diastolic is the bottom number. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Central Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 If you have high blood pressure related to your military service, you want to understand how the VA rates the condition, even if youre already on medication to control it. 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. However, some veterans may be concerned that if the medication works well, they may no longer qualify for benefits or a certain disability rating. The VA has a responsibility to Help you Get the Highest SupportableRating inYour VA Disability Claim. This makes good sense, because if your disability doesnt affect you, the VA wont compensate you for that condition. 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 . Cincinnati, OH: 300 E Business Way, Suite 200, Summit Woods Corporate Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45241 Keep in mind the VA checks were after being on medication for high blood pressure for over 4 years. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 10 percent rating: when your diastolic pressure is 100 to 109, or your systolic pressure is 160 to 199. The connection between the two can work the opposite way as well. 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. Eventually, the hose, its connectors, and the pump supplying the pressure will all experience damage. 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. <<, 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.. There is a good chance that the VA may have under evaluated disabilities based on medication relief, but when the diagnostic code does not allow the VA to consider the relief afforded by medication.
Itan Sango Ni Ede Yoruba, How To Launch Star Wars Battlefront 2 Without Origin, Articles V