Cardiovascular
DC: 7101
Hypertension
Long-term hypertension causes damage to multiple organ systems.
4 known secondary conditions
Secondary Conditions
The following conditions may be claimed as secondary to Hypertension:
Heart Disease
DC: 7007
Max Rating: 100%
Caused By
Established Link
Medical Connection
Chronic high blood pressure causes hypertensive heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, and coronary artery disease.
Evidence Tips
- Echocardiogram
- Cardiac stress test
- Documentation of blood pressure history
Stroke
DC: 8007-8009
Max Rating: 100%
Caused By
Established Link
Medical Connection
Hypertension is the leading risk factor for stroke due to damage to blood vessels.
Evidence Tips
- Medical records documenting stroke
- Blood pressure history
- Neurological evaluation
Kidney Disease
DC: 7541
Max Rating: 100%
Caused By
Established Link
Medical Connection
Hypertensive nephropathy damages kidney blood vessels, leading to chronic kidney disease.
Evidence Tips
- Kidney function tests
- Blood pressure history
- Nephrology evaluation
Vision Problems
DC: 6006
Max Rating: 100%
Caused By
Established Link
Medical Connection
Hypertensive retinopathy damages blood vessels in the eyes.
Evidence Tips
- Ophthalmology evaluation
- Retinal imaging
Tips for Filing Secondary Claims
- Get a nexus letter: A medical opinion specifically stating your secondary condition is "at least as likely as not" caused by or aggravated by your primary condition is crucial.
- Document the timeline: Show when your secondary condition developed relative to your primary condition. Earlier development strengthens the connection.
- Include research: Medical studies showing the connection between conditions can support your claim. Your doctor can reference these in their nexus letter.
- Be specific on VA Form 21-526EZ: When describing your condition, explicitly state it is "secondary to [your primary condition]" to ensure proper processing.