Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Hypertension is rated on blood-pressure readings and may be claimed as secondary to other conditions. For certain herbicide-exposed veterans it has been recognized as presumptive.
Across 8,413 real Board appeals for Hypertension (high blood pressure)
63% were granted, partly granted, or remanded.
A denial is often not the end — remands are sent back for more development and frequently end in a grant.
- Granted 13%
- Partly granted 24%
- Remanded 27%
- Denied 28%
What tends to win
Among the appeals that were granted or partly granted, the most common ways Hypertension (high blood pressure) was linked to service:
- Direct service connection1,780
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)449
- Secondary to another service-connected condition351
How it’s rated, in practice
When Hypertension (high blood pressure) was granted, the rating most often assigned was:
- 100% (637)
- 10% (377)
- 70% (77)
- 20% (63)
- 30% (59)
Presumptive & exposure paths
These appeals involved a recognized exposure — which can mean the link to service is presumed, with no nexus to prove:
- Agent Orange / herbicides689
- PACT Act650
- Burn pits & airborne hazards131
- Camp Lejeune water117
- Gulf War110
Real decisions
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for heart condition, hypertension, and residuals prostate cancer on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's condition had its onset during her active duty service.
- Granted
The Board granted the veteran's appeal and restored a 10 percent rating for hypertension, finding that the reduction was improper.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that Type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension, which are presumed to have resulted from herbicide exposure during service, contributed substantially to his demise.
What you can do next
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.