Hypertension DC 7101
Listed in the rating schedule as “Hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension)”. VA rates it under diagnostic code 7101 in 38 CFR 4.104. Body system: Heart & blood pressure.
Also searched as: high blood pressure, HTN, HBP.
How VA rates it
The schedule allows 4 rating levels for this code: 10%, 20%, 40%, and 60%. VA picks the level whose criteria best match your symptoms and records.
Source: 38 CFR 4.104 on eCFR. Read the full criteria there before you file.
Rating levels and criteria
| Rating | What the schedule says |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Criteria text from 38 CFR 4.104, eCFR as of November 10, 2026. The eCFR is the official source if anything here differs.
Notes in the schedule (3)
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.
Note (2): Evaluate hypertension due to aortic insufficiency or hyperthyroidism, which is usually the isolated systolic type, as part of the condition causing it rather than by a separate evaluation.
Note (3): Evaluate hypertension separately from hypertensive heart disease and other types of heart disease.
Conditions it can lead to
If this condition is service connected, these conditions are often claimed as secondary to it (38 CFR 3.310). Each one still needs its own diagnosis.
Erectile dysfunction DC 7522 Established link
High blood pressure damages blood vessels, and NIH lists it as a cause of erectile dysfunction.
What to gather: An ED diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your high blood pressure. Blood pressure medicines can also cause ED.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NIDDK (NIH): Symptoms and causes of erectile dysfunction
Hypertensive heart disease DC 7007 Established link
Years of high blood pressure thicken and strain the heart muscle, which VA rates separately as hypertensive heart disease.
What to gather: A heart diagnosis from tests such as an echocardiogram and a medical opinion linking it to your high blood pressure.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); MedlinePlus: Hypertensive heart disease; 38 CFR 4.104, DC 7101 Note (3): rate hypertension separately from heart disease
Nephrosclerosis, arteriolar DC 7507 Established link
High blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure in the U.S. after diabetes.
What to gather: Lab tests showing kidney disease and a medical opinion linking it to your high blood pressure.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NIDDK (NIH): High blood pressure and kidney disease; 38 CFR 4.115b
Retinopathy or maculopathy not otherwise specified DC 6006 Established link
High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the back of the eye (hypertensive retinopathy).
What to gather: An eye exam documenting hypertensive retinopathy and a medical opinion linking it to your high blood pressure.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); MedlinePlus: High blood pressure and eye disease; 38 CFR 4.79
Commonly claimed as secondary to
If one of these is already service connected, you may be able to claim this condition as secondary to it.
Complete amputation, lower extremity DC 5160 Established link
VA's rule covers "other cardiovascular disease" after a service-connected leg amputation at or above the knee, which includes high blood pressure.
What to gather: A hypertension diagnosis with blood pressure readings taken on at least three different days.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310(c) (heart disease after leg amputation); 38 CFR 4.104
Sleep apnea DC 6847 Established link
Repeated drops in oxygen during sleep raise blood pressure, and NIH lists high blood pressure as a health effect of sleep apnea.
What to gather: A hypertension diagnosis (readings on at least three days) and a medical opinion linking it to your sleep apnea.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NHLBI (NIH): Living with sleep apnea; Obstructive sleep apnea-related hypertension: review of the literature (Hypertens Res, 2024)
Thigh, amputation of: middle or lower thirds DC 5162 Established link
VA's rule covers "other cardiovascular disease" after a service-connected leg amputation at or above the knee, which includes high blood pressure.
What to gather: A hypertension diagnosis with blood pressure readings taken on at least three different days.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310(c) (heart disease after leg amputation); 38 CFR 4.104
Thigh, amputation of: upper third DC 5161 Established link
VA's rule covers "other cardiovascular disease" after a service-connected leg amputation at or above the knee, which includes high blood pressure.
What to gather: A hypertension diagnosis with blood pressure readings taken on at least three different days.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310(c) (heart disease after leg amputation); 38 CFR 4.104
With defective stump, thigh amputation recommended DC 5163 Established link
VA's rule covers "other cardiovascular disease" after a service-connected leg amputation at or above the knee, which includes high blood pressure.
What to gather: A hypertension diagnosis with blood pressure readings taken on at least three different days.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310(c) (heart disease after leg amputation); 38 CFR 4.104
Diabetes (type 2) DC 7913 Possible link
Diabetes can raise blood pressure, mainly once it has started to damage the kidneys.
What to gather: A hypertension diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your diabetes. The case is strongest if you also have diabetic kidney disease.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NIDDK (NIH): Diabetic kidney disease
Generalized anxiety disorder DC 9400 Possible link
Research links anxiety with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, through long-term stress hormones and sleep loss.
What to gather: A hypertension diagnosis (readings on at least three days) and a medical opinion linking it to your anxiety. If weight gain from your condition or its medicines played a part, the opinion should say so.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); Association between anxiety and hypertension in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis (Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 2021)
Major depressive disorder DC 9434 Possible link
Research links depression with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, through long-term stress hormones and sleep loss.
What to gather: A hypertension diagnosis (readings on at least three days) and a medical opinion linking it to your depression. If weight gain from your condition or its medicines played a part, the opinion should say so.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); Depression increases the risk of hypertension incidence: meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies (J Hypertens, 2012)
PTSD DC 9411 Possible link
Research links PTSD with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, through long-term stress hormones and sleep loss.
What to gather: A hypertension diagnosis (readings on at least three days) and a medical opinion linking it to your PTSD. If weight gain from your condition or its medicines played a part, the opinion should say so.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); Risk for incident hypertension associated with PTSD in military veterans (Psychosom Med, 2017); VA General Counsel VAOPGCPREC 1-2017 (obesity as an intermediate step)
Presumptive rules that include it
If your service matches one of these, VA presumes the link to service and you do not need a medical opinion connecting it.
Agent Orange and herbicides
Covered: High blood pressure (added by the PACT Act).
Who qualifies: Any length of service in Vietnam, on its inland waterways, or within 12 nautical miles offshore (January 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975); at a U.S. or Royal Thai base in Thailand (January 9, 1962 to June 30, 1976); in Laos (December 1, 1965 to September 30, 1969); at Mimot or Krek, Cambodia (April 16 to 30, 1969); on Guam or American Samoa or their waters (January 9, 1962 to July 31, 1980); on Johnston Atoll or a ship that called there (January 1, 1972 to September 30, 1977); in or near the Korean DMZ (September 1, 1967 to August 31, 1971); with regular duty on C-123 aircraft that carried Agent Orange; or handling, testing, or storing Agent Orange.
38 CFR 3.307(a)(6) and 3.309(e). Sources: 38 CFR 3.307; 38 CFR 3.309; VA.gov: Agent Orange exposure and disability compensation; VA.gov: The PACT Act and your VA benefits
Former prisoners of war (any length)
Covered: Hypertensive vascular disease.
Who qualifies: Any length of time held as a prisoner of war. The condition must reach at least 10% disabling at any time after service.
38 CFR 3.309(c)(1). Sources: 38 CFR 3.309; VA.gov: Benefits for former prisoners of war
Chronic diseases that show up within a year of discharge
Covered: Hypertension (as part of cardiovascular-renal disease).
Time limit: At least 10% disabling within 1 year of discharge.
Who qualifies: 90 days or more of continuous active service during a war period or after December 31, 1946, and the disease reached at least 10% disabling within 1 year of leaving service (3 years for tuberculosis and Hansen's disease, 7 years for multiple sclerosis).
38 CFR 3.307(a)(3) and 3.309(a). Sources: 38 CFR 3.307; 38 CFR 3.309; VA M21-1, Part V, Subpart iii, Chapter 2, Section B: Conditions of the auditory system
Related medications
Medications that can cause or worsen it
If you take one of these for a service-connected condition, this condition may be claimable as secondary to that condition. You need a diagnosis, your prescription records, and a medical opinion.
NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory pain relievers) (for example ibuprofen, naproxen, meloxicam, diclofenac) Established link
NSAID labels warn that they can cause new high blood pressure or make it worse.
Sources: FDA label: Meloxicam (DailyMed)
Oral and injected steroids (for example prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone) Established link
Steroids can raise blood pressure, which their labels list as a side effect.
Sources: FDA label: Prednisone (DailyMed)
SNRI antidepressants (for example venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, levomilnacipran) Established link
SNRI labels warn that these drugs can raise blood pressure, sometimes to sustained hypertension.
Sources: FDA label: Venlafaxine (DailyMed); Effects of venlafaxine on blood pressure: a meta-analysis (PubMed)
ADHD stimulants (for example methylphenidate, dexmethylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine) Possible link
Stimulant labels warn that they raise blood pressure. A link to lasting hypertension needs a medical opinion.
Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Aplenzin) Established link
Bupropion labels warn that it can raise blood pressure and cause hypertension.
Sources: FDA label: Bupropion (DailyMed)
Medications prescribed for it
A prescription shows the condition was diagnosed. It still needs its own link to service.
Show 12 medications
- ACE inhibitors (for example lisinopril, enalapril, benazepril, ramipril). FDA labels: Lisinopril (DailyMed)
- Alpha blockers (for example prazosin, doxazosin, terazosin). FDA labels: Prazosin (DailyMed)
- ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) (for example losartan, valsartan, olmesartan, irbesartan). FDA labels: Losartan (DailyMed)
- Beta blockers (for example metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol, propranolol). FDA labels: Metoprolol (DailyMed)
- Calcium channel blockers (for example amlodipine, nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil). FDA labels: Amlodipine (DailyMed)
- Central alpha agonists (for example guanfacine, clonidine, methyldopa). FDA labels: Guanfacine (DailyMed)
- Potassium-sparing diuretics (for example spironolactone, eplerenone, amiloride). FDA labels: Spironolactone (DailyMed)
- Thiazide diuretics (for example hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, indapamide, metolazone). FDA labels: Hydrochlorothiazide (DailyMed)
- Vasodilators (for example hydralazine, minoxidil). FDA labels: Hydralazine (DailyMed)
- Furosemide (Lasix, Furoscix). FDA labels: Furosemide (DailyMed)
- Guanfacine (Intuniv). FDA labels: Guanfacine (DailyMed)
- Torsemide (Soaanz). FDA labels: Torsemide (DailyMed)
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Rating schedule data as of November 10, 2026. Secondary and presumptive links checked November 13, 2026.
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