VA disability rating for Hypertension
High blood pressure is rated on your diastolic and systolic readings and whether you require continuous medication.
Diagnostic code 7101 · §4.104 · Cardiovascular system · up to 60%
Rating criteria
| Rating | When it applies |
|---|
| 60% | Diastolic pressure predominantly 130 or more |
| 40% | Diastolic pressure predominantly 120 or more |
| 20% | Diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more, or; systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more |
| 10% | 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 |
Related conditions
Conditions often claimed with hypertension: Cardiac conditions, Kidney disease, Vision changes, Erectile dysfunction, and Headaches.
A secondary claim needs a medical nexus linking the condition to a service-connected one.
Related guides
Peer-reviewed research on hypertension
12 peer-reviewed studies linked to hypertension (diagnostic code 7101), from PubMed and the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Each citation links to its source.
Study
Managing Resistant Hypertension in Rural Veterans: A Pharmacist-Led Telehealth Approach.Journal of Pharmacy Practice · 2026
- VA-system management model for resistant hypertension in rural veteran population.
VA-system management model for resistant hypertension in rural veteran population.
View on PubMed ↗Study
Posttraumatic stress disorder and hypertension in older adult Vietnam Era male and female veterans.Journal of Traumatic Stress · 2025
- PTSD-hypertension association in Vietnam-era veterans, supports secondary service connection.
PTSD-hypertension association in Vietnam-era veterans, supports secondary service connection.
View on PubMed ↗Review
Epidemiological Link Between Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Cardiovascular Disease: Evidence, Mechanisms, and Clinical Implications.Cureus · 2025
- Review of PTSD-CVD mechanisms including hypertension; mechanistic basis for secondary claims.
Review of PTSD-CVD mechanisms including hypertension; mechanistic basis for secondary claims.
View on PubMed ↗Study
Trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, and incident chronic disease.Annals of Behavioral Medicine · 2025
- PTSD predicts incident hypertension and chronic disease in longitudinal data.
PTSD predicts incident hypertension and chronic disease in longitudinal data.
View on PubMed ↗Study
Hypertension at the nexus of veteran status, psychiatric disorders, and traumatic brain injury: Insights from the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.PLoS One · 2024
- BRFSS analysis linking veteran status, psychiatric disorders, TBI to hypertension.
BRFSS analysis linking veteran status, psychiatric disorders, TBI to hypertension.
View on PubMed ↗Study
Baroreflex dysfunction and augmented sympathetic nerve responses during mental stress in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.Journal of Physiology · 2017
- Mechanistic study showing autonomic dysfunction driving blood-pressure elevation in PTSD veterans.
Mechanistic study showing autonomic dysfunction driving blood-pressure elevation in PTSD veterans.
View on PubMed ↗Study
Agent Orange exposure and prevalence of self-reported diseases in Korean Vietnam veterans.Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health · 2013
- Large Korean Vietnam-veteran cohort shows elevated hypertension prevalence with Agent Orange exposure.
Large Korean Vietnam-veteran cohort shows elevated hypertension prevalence with Agent Orange exposure.
View on PubMed ↗Cohort study
Impact of Agent Orange exposure among Korean Vietnam veterans.Industrial Health · 2003
- Documents hypertension and chronic disease burden in Agent Orange-exposed Korean Vietnam veterans.
Documents hypertension and chronic disease burden in Agent Orange-exposed Korean Vietnam veterans.
View on PubMed ↗Meta-analysis
The Relationship between Military Combat and Cardiovascular Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International Journal of Vascular Medicine · 2019
- Systematic review and meta-analysis: combat raises cardiovascular and CAD risk in veterans.
Systematic review and meta-analysis: combat raises cardiovascular and CAD risk in veterans.
View on PubMed ↗Case-control
Posttraumatic stress disorder, combat exposure, and carotid intima-media thickness in male twins.American Journal of Epidemiology · 2014
- Vietnam-era twin study: PTSD plus combat exposure raises carotid IMT, a CAD surrogate.
Vietnam-era twin study: PTSD plus combat exposure raises carotid IMT, a CAD surrogate.
View on PubMed ↗Study
Military combat and risk of coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke in aging men: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.Annals of Epidemiology · 2010
- ARIC cohort: combat exposure independently raises coronary heart disease risk.
ARIC cohort: combat exposure independently raises coronary heart disease risk.
View on PubMed ↗Study
Military combat and burden of subclinical atherosclerosis in middle aged men: the ARIC study.Preventive Medicine · 2010
- Combat exposure correlated with subclinical atherosclerosis (carotid IMT) in ARIC.
Combat exposure correlated with subclinical atherosclerosis (carotid IMT) in ARIC.
View on PubMed ↗
This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. Rating criteria are summarized from 38 CFR Part 4; the VA determines actual ratings based on your evidence and exam. VA Ready is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Always verify current criteria at VA.gov and consult a VA-accredited representative.