EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Hypertension (Agent Orange Presumptive)
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.104 (Cardiovascular system) · reviewed 2026-05-27 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Hypertension (Agent Orange Presumptive) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 7101 of 38 CFR § 4.104, DC 7101 across 4 severity tiers (60% / 40% / 20% / 10%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
High blood pressure added as a presumptive condition for Agent Orange-exposed veterans. One of the most commonly claimed conditions overall. Requires diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic 160 or more, or history of diastolic 100+ requiring continuous medication.
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
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.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.104 (Cardiovascular system). Source verified 2026-05-27 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026