VA rating guide · Cardiovascular
Hypertension VA Rating: Criteria & Agent Orange
High blood pressure is rated on your readings, and since the PACT Act it’s presumed service-connected for many Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
- Exact VA criteria
- Reading requirements
- Agent Orange presumptive
- Secondary conditions
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Hypertension Rating Criteria
Hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension). 2026 pay shown for a veteran with no dependents.
The Readings the VA Needs
Under the regulation, hypertension must be confirmed by readings taken two or more times on at least three different days. For VA purposes, hypertension means diastolic pressure predominantly 90 or greater; isolated systolic hypertension means systolic pressure predominantly 160 or greater with diastolic below 90.
The 10% minimum is especially important: if your records show a history of diastolic readings predominantly 100 or more before you started medication, and you now need continuous medication, you can qualify even though your readings are controlled today. Older records showing pre-medication readings can make the difference.
Agent Orange: Hypertension Is Now Presumptive
The PACT Act added high blood pressure to the list of conditions presumed to be caused by Agent Orange. If you served in a qualifying location, including Vietnam and the newly added locations in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Guam, American Samoa and Johnston Atoll during qualifying periods, you don’t need to prove a medical link.
Many Vietnam-era veterans in South Dakota have been treated for hypertension for years without ever claiming it. See the full list of locations and dates in our PACT Act guide.
Secondary Connections, Both Directions
Conditions that can cause hypertension
With a supporting medical opinion, hypertension may be service-connected secondary to conditions such as kidney disease, sleep apnea, or PTSD, or to medications for other service-connected conditions.
Conditions hypertension can cause
Service-connected hypertension can lead to heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. Hypertensive heart disease and other heart conditions are rated separately from hypertension.
Hypertension VA Rating: Common Questions
Can I get a rating if my blood pressure is controlled with medication?
Yes, potentially. The 10% minimum applies if you have a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more and require continuous medication for control.
Is hypertension presumptive for Agent Orange?
Yes. Since the PACT Act, high blood pressure is a presumptive condition for veterans exposed to Agent Orange in qualifying locations during qualifying periods.
How many blood pressure readings does the VA need?
The regulation requires readings taken two or more times on at least three different days to confirm hypertension.
Is heart disease rated together with hypertension?
No. The VA evaluates hypertension separately from hypertensive heart disease and other types of heart disease.
South Dakota Veterans: Get the Rating You Earned
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