Hypertension is a common and challenging condition that many veterans receiving VA service related disability benefits are diagnosed with.

It is a unique condition, as while many veterans make VA disability claims for hypertension as a secondary illness to other conditions and it can also cause a significant number of secondary conditions when it is the primary illness.

For this reason, veterans can seek VA disability claims help to determine whether they must claim their new condition as a secondary condition to hypertension or as a new primary condition.

How Does Hypertension Affect The Body?

Hypertension or high blood pressure affects nearly half of all Americans, including many veterans who are receiving VA service related disability benefits after developing the condition during or after their military service.

It is recognized as one of the most common chronic illnesses affecting veterans today.

Hypertension is a condition that causes elevated pressure in the arteries as the heart beats and rests, causing blood flow issues and elevated risks of other heart-related problems.

With abnormal blood flow throughout the body due to elevated arterial pressure, those with the condition often develop other medical conditions secondary to their diagnosis of hypertension.

What Are Some Common Conditions Caused By HBP?

When veterans make VA disability claims for certain new conditions, it is often found that these conditions have developed secondarily to a pre-existing diagnosis of hypertension for which they are already receiving VA benefits.

With the proper filing of a VA disability claim that can prove service-connection as well as a connection to pre-existing hypertension, those with secondary conditions can often have their current disability ratings adjusted and their overall monthly benefit increased.

Some of the most common secondary conditions that can be caused by hypertension include the following:

• Aneurysm
• Angina
• Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
• Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
• Heart Disease
• Kidney Disease
• Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH)
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Microvascular Disease (Small Vessel Disease)
• Mood Disorders
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Retinopathy
• Sleep Apnea
• Stroke

How Should Veterans With HBP Claim A New Condition?

Veterans who are already receiving VA service related disability benefits for hypertension as a primary condition and are then diagnosed with a second condition that is said to be caused by their hypertension must claim for the secondary condition in the same customary manner.

In doing so, their VA disability claim must also establish a service connection via the necessary evidence that proves the condition was caused by primary hypertension, which was caused by the veteran’s military service.

Qualifying VA disability claims will have the new condition added as a secondary to hypertension and the overall rating adjusted.

In some cases, a secondary condition caused by highly-rated hypertension can result in a total disability rating that compensates at 100%.

Get VA Service-Related Disability Claims Help

VA service related disability claims associated with hypertension can be complicated.

When a veteran with hypertension develops a new condition, they should seek disability claims help to identify whether their claim should be filed as a secondary condition to their existing hypertension or as a new primary condition.

In either case, experienced claims experts can help veterans receive all the service related disability benefits they are entitled to and deserve!

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