hypertension High Blood Pressure Claim

[dav_marine72]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for help to get my BP SC to 10%. I am sc secondary to my sc back condition. It's been on appeal since 2004. I have been on blood pressure medicine almost continuously since 1997. Back in 1997 my readings were consistently 150/95 with an occasional reading over 160 and a couple of 100s with many high 90's. Since then I had consistent 150-160 / 90-100 up until about 2004. I definitely had two or more readings taken on three or more days that were equal or above 160 or 100. In 2004 I started taking sedatives and anti-axiety meds for my sc mental condition. Then in late 2006 I added pain killers. Well the cocktail of it all puts me at an average of 115 / 80 now. Based on the rating criteria I would seem to rate 10%. They ahve all this evidence I have described above yet rate me 0% based on good ratings over the years. Anyone had a similar stituation? Thanks.

Here is the rating criteria:

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 10

NOTE (1): Hypertension or isolated systolic hypertension

must be confirmed by readings taken two

or more times on at least three different days. For

purposes of this section, the term hypertension

means that the diastolic blood pressure is predominantly

90mm. or greater, and isolated systolic hypertension

means that the systolic blood pressure

is predominantly 160mm. or greater with a diastolic

blood pressure of less than 90mm.

[jbasser]

If you have your records you can do this:

Compile a list of BP readings

Date where taken systolic diastolic

Show all readings. Highlight or bold the predominant readings.

This should assist in your increase.

J

[john999]

Have you had an echocardiogram of your heart? Often your heart will show signs of the results of HBP. If you have HBP you heart muscle gets bigger and thicker because it has to pump harder or is pumping harder. My doc looked at my echo and my BP and put me on meds. Do you have DMII? The HBP effects the kidneys and the DMII makes it worse.

[trailblazer]

I was awarded 10% for HBP, secondary to DMII, but no compensation. The VA sucks when it comes to taking care of the veterans.

[Ricky]

Are you sure you are service connected at the zero percent rate? The reason I asked is that if you have been on BP meds since 1997 and the HTN has already been service connected on a secondary basis then something is not right.

Or is it that you are attempting to gain service connection via secondary to your back condition.

In either case I would have to ask what the nexus was to gain service connection for HTN due to a back condition.

[dav_marine72]

Thanks for Everyone's comments,

Here are the answers:

I'll start with Ricky because that will lay the history out. I am service connected and it is secondary to my back. You will see in my decision that a doctor I was seeing in 1997 stated he thought the HBP was due to my chronic back pain. I did have a hearing after this decision came out with the DRO and DAV. DAV stated I should have been rated at least 10% because of my meds which is the norm. The DRO said I should have never been service connected in the first place but since the RO gave it to me I rated 10%. Of course after my hearing I was shot down for the 10%.

I have had no work ups on my heart. My PCP at the VA said she will keep me on HBP meds unless I lose 30 lbs which would get me to 190lbs. The only reasons my readings are normal now are because of the pain meds, sedative, and anti-anxiety I explained earlier. I did go through and find all the readings that I think rate me 10%. I submitted them even though the RO had them in their possesion. I did the ABC thing for them. They still screwed me.

Thoughts?

[dav_marine72]

Here is the decision

DRO_2004_Decision_part_1.pdf