WingmanOpen the free toolsWingmanOpen the free toolsIf the VA already service-connected your hypertension (also called hypertension, high blood pressure, HTN), it can cause or worsen other conditions that are ratable on their own. These "secondary" claims are where many veterans leave money on the table. Below is what a service-connected hypertension commonly leads to, why, and what evidence each one takes.
A secondary claim only works if the primary condition (hypertension) is already service-connected, and you have a nexus — a doctor's opinion that it is "at least as likely as not" the cause. More on nexus letters →
Chronic high blood pressure strains the heart and arteries, contributing to heart disease over time.
What you'd need: A cardiac diagnosis (stress test, imaging, or METs testing) and a medical opinion linking it to the service-connected hypertension.
Sustained high blood pressure damages the kidneys' filtering vessels, a recognized secondary complication.
What you'd need: Lab evidence of reduced kidney function and a nexus opinion tying it to the service-connected hypertension.
Hypertension damages blood vessels needed for erections, and blood-pressure medications commonly cause ED. Service connection unlocks SMC-K.
What you'd need: An ED diagnosis, your BP medication list, and a nexus opinion tying it to the hypertension or its treatment.