Hypertension (hypertensive vascular disease) VA Rating

Hypertension (hypertensive vascular disease) is rated under diagnostic code 7101. In the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities it appears as Hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension), within the Cardiovascular System section of 38 CFR Part 4.

The essentials

Other names for this condition

VA and treating providers may use different terms for the same condition. If your records use any of these, they may still support a claim for Hypertension (hypertensive vascular disease):

• Diastolic hypertension
• essential hypertension
• arterial hypertension
• high blood pressure (HBP)

What evidence decides the rating

For cardiovascular system conditions, these are the findings VA weighs when assigning a percentage. If your examination did not address them, the examination may be inadequate for rating purposes — which is itself an argument on appeal.

• METs testing — either an exercise stress test or an interview-based METs estimate with the examiner's rationale
• Left ventricular ejection fraction
• Evidence of congestive heart failure episodes and their frequency
• For hypertension: predominant diastolic and systolic readings, and whether continuous medication is required

Why these claims get denied or under-rated

These are the failure patterns we see most often on hypertension (hypertensive vascular disease) and related cardiovascular system claims:

• No METs testing was performed and no interview-based estimate with rationale was provided
• Hypertension denied because current readings are controlled by medication, without addressing what the readings would be without it
• Predominant readings were taken from a single visit rather than across the record

Secondary service connection

Under 38 CFR §3.310, a condition caused or aggravated by an already service-connected condition is itself service-connected. Secondary claims are where most veterans are leaving compensation on the table — and where most denials turn on the nexus opinion rather than the diagnosis.

Hypertension (hypertensive vascular disease) is commonly claimed secondary to

• PTSD and anxiety
• Sleep apnea
• Diabetes mellitus
• Kidney disease
• Medication side effects

Hypertension (hypertensive vascular disease) commonly causes or aggravates

• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Stroke
• Retinopathy

If you are already service-connected for hypertension (hypertensive vascular disease) and any of these apply to you, they may be claimable as secondary conditions.

If your claim was denied or under-rated

A denial is not the end of the claim. Which route is right depends on why VA decided the way it did:

• Higher-Level Review — when the evidence already in the file supports a grant and VA got the decision wrong, or the examination was inadequate.
• Supplemental Claim — when you have new and relevant evidence, such as a private nexus opinion.
• Board Appeal — when you need a Veterans Law Judge to decide, or want a hearing.
• Clear and Unmistakable Error — when a decision more than a year old contains an undebatable error, which can recover retroactive pay.

Effective dates matter as much as the percentage. See effective dates and back pay for how far back an award can reach.

Sources

• 38 CFR Part 4 rating criteria on eCFR
• VA Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQ) index

Related conditions

• Raynaud's syndrome (DC 7117)
• Varicose veins (DC 7120)
• Post-phlebitic syndrome (DC 7121)
• Cardiomyopathy (DC 7020)
• Coronary bypass surgery (DC 7017)
• Heart valve replacement (DC 7016)