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hypertension Should I Submit A Nod For A 0% Rating For Hypertension?
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Joep
Should I submit a NOD for a 0% rating for hypertension?
On one hand, I think that if I lost 50 lbs or so, my BP may not require medications and I have a family history of high BP so I don’t place blame on the military or the VA for having this condition.
However, VA reps said I didn’t have it for my first 16 years of 26 in the military so I should claim it.
So I did and because my BP was often but perhaps not “Predominately” documented in my medical records with a diastolic of 100; I was given a 0% rating. About 5 years ago, still on active duty, they doubled my dosage to better control my BP.
Throughout the years, my BP would be taken, the diastolic would be over 100 so I would routinely be asked to sit for 5 min or so, then it would be taken again and be below 100. While in the military, I was given the 5-day BP tests on five occasions because of borderline/high BP. Once again, I would be told to sit quietly for 10-15 min, relax, and only then they would take the measurements. Since this measured my resting BP rate and much lower, they always decided to delay the start of BP medications. Only after years of this repetition did someone finally tell me I should have been started on medications years ago and intervened. Also throughout the years, my BP would be alarming high when using an automated BP cuff, so they would do it manually and I will get lower pressure readings.
Here is my question; I have little doubt that my BP is predominately over 100 without BP medication intervention and that I need these medications to be below 100. Even with the medications, my diastolic is most often in the mid 90’s. Thus, should I be rated at 10%?
I suppose the only way to know for sure is to stop taking the medications for a couple of weeks and get another 5 day test. This sounds a bit absurd but perhaps the only way to prove what I believe to be true.
I want to take full advantage of any VA entitlements but don’t want to abuse the system. I feel that I meet the criteria for a 10% rating but they way my BP was documented over the years, it was easy for the VA to say I didn’t qualify.
What would you do? What should I do?
Thanks;
JP
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