How Veterans Can Service
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, occurs when the force of your blood pushing against blood vessel walls is regularly too high. Its possible for someone to have hypertension without symptoms.
However, if the condition goes on for a long period of time, or you havent been prescribed medication, organ problems can develop that might lead to a variety of other health conditions, including coronary heart disease and vision and breathing issues.
Veterans who developed high blood pressure while on active duty could qualify for disability benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs .
The National Veteran Health Equity Report cites that in 2016, hypertension was the number one diagnosed condition of veterans.
Experienced Representation For Veterans In Atlanta
High blood pressure should not be discounted as a serious health risk. Statistics show that some veterans are more inclined towards high blood pressure due to their service in the military. Our firm stands ready to help veterans obtain their justveterans disability. We have witnessed too much injustice in this area.
Our experience for 40 years helping disabled individuals obtain disability benefits from large government agencies qualifies us to provide you with the help you need to obtain your benefits. We know the system and we can get results. We fight hard and are tough when we need to be towards our opponents. We make ourselves available to our clients and you will find us personable and caring. Most importantly you will find us effective.
What Is High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure created by blood flowing through the circulatory system. BPH is measured using two readings: systolic and diastolic. Systolic pressure measures whether the heart is contracting and diastolic pressures show if the heart relaxes between beats.
The normal range for blood pressure is systolic pressure of 100-140 and a diastolic pressure of 60-90 and is read with the systolic number followed by the diastolic number such as 100 over 60 and written as 100/60.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can be either primary or secondary in nature. Primary hypertension means that HBP is happening without any other medical conditions. Secondary hypertension means that HBP is occurring as a result of another medical condition.
Secondary hypertension may be caused by kidney disease, heart disease or artery blockages, or a compromised endocrine system. Hypertension is more likely to occur in individuals who are obese or who have an adrenal gland disorder.
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Keep Copies And Receipts
Always keep a copy of your entire application packet including additional documentation. If you choose to file your application by mail, you should receive a VA letter within a few weeks. For eBenefits applications, youll receive a digital confirmation within hours.
Add these letters or confirmations and any other correspondence to your file. This will prove invaluable when checking on the claim and if you decide to appeal the decision.
Here one of our VA disability lawyers talks about one of the most important parts of a winning veterans disability claim: the nexus letter.
How Diabetes Affects The Kidneys
The kidneys are made up of hundreds of thousands of units called nephrons. These nephrons consist of a glomerulus and its attached tubule, which specializes in reabsorbing necessary fluids and secreting the rest as urine. Diabetes, particularly hyperglycemia, causes nephrons to slowly thicken and become scarred over time. The scarred nephrons begin to leak protein into the urine. This is known as microalbuminuria. Albumin is an important component of human blood, as it transports hormones, fatty acids, and other compounds through the bloodstream. In a healthy kidney, the glomerulus normally secretes very small amounts of albumin. However, scarred nephrons allow too many albumin to slip through and pass into the secreted fluids, causing the body to lose these necessary proteins.
If caught early enough, slightly elevated levels of albumin in the urine will return to normal with proper control of blood sugar. However, after 7-15 years, 25% 40% of insulin-dependent diabetics develop microalbuminuria, and the vast majority of these patients will progress to proteinuria over the following years. Development of persistent proteinuria often heralds a decline in renal function associated with even higher levels of protein excretion. In other words, proteinuria is a sign of chronic kidney disease .
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Should I Hire A Lawyer
You can get through the application — and appeal — process without a lawyer. But appealing a rejection can be hard. So it can be helpful to have an attorney, especially one who specializes in this.
Protection and advocacy organizations can help you find a lawyer who will help you get through paperwork, get your medical records and other necessary information in order, and prepare you for your appeal hearing. They also can represent you in front of the judge.
The SSA must approve your attorneyâs fee, and itâs only paid if you win the appeal. The fee is either 25% of the benefits you earned from the date of your original application through the date your case is decided or $6,000 — whichever is lower.
You can find Protection and Advocacy organizations on the Social Security Administration’s website. The American Bar Association also has information on its website.
Can I Get Va Disability For My Hypertension
Like many other veterans you may suffer from hypertension, or high blood pressure. And this condition may have been caused by your military service. But it can be hard to show that your time in the military caused your hypertension, when around 50% of all Americans suffer from this condition. Fortunately, hypertension is a condition that benefits from a presumption of being service related. In other words, if you develop hypertension at the 10 percent rating level or higher within one year of your discharge, the VA will conclude that the condition was caused by your military service.
If the onset of your high blood pressure occurs more than ayear after your discharge, you will have a harder time gettingcompensationbut its not impossible. You will need to present your detailedmedical history and service records to show that the conditions of your servicecaused your increase in blood pressure. And if the VA rejects your claim, we atJackson & MacNichol can help. For a free consultation with one of ourveterans disability lawyers, call us today at 1 524-3339.
Hypertension Is One of the Most Common Disabilities AmongVeterans
- Blurredvision
- Fatigueor inability to concentrate
- Shortnessof breath
- Irregularheart beat
- Poundingin your ears, neck, or chest
According to the VA guidelines, you may receive adisability rating of 10% to 60% for hypertension:
Appeal Your Disability Claim Denial with a VeteransBenefits Lawyer
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Do You Have Undiagnosed Hypertension Check These Symptoms
Regular blood pressure readings are the best way to know whether youre in danger of developing hypertension. However, some signs and symptoms typically associated with hypertension include:
- Chronic headaches
- Problems catching your breath or general difficulty breathing
- Irregular or abnormal heartbeat
- Blood in urine
Your doctor must document your high blood pressure diagnosis before you file a VA disability for hypertension claim. Without sufficient medical evidence to support your VA disability for hypertension claim, your request for benefits may result in denial. For more information on hypertension symptoms, management strategies and nutrition, read Blood Pressure Down: The 10-Step Plan to Lower Your Blood Pressure in 4 Weeks Without Prescription Drugs.
If You Have Hypertension And It Has Impacted Your Ability To Work You May Be Eligible For Social Security Disability Income
However, because Social Security eligibility requirements are complex, you may want to consult an experienced Social Security attorney to ensure your best chance for approval.
In order to qualify for Social Security Disability, you will need to satisfy a few specific requirements in two categories as determined by the Social Security Administration.
The first category is the Work Requirements which has two tests.
The second category is the Medical Eligibility Requirement.
More details can be found on our Qualifying for Disability page.
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Va Disability For Secondary Hypertension
To receive a disability rating for PTSD secondary hypertension, your doctor needs to document your diagnosis of high blood pressure. Additionally, to file your claim, your doctor needs to fill out the Hypertension Disability Benefits Questionnaire. Its important to note that you cant fill out this form yourselfthe VA wont accept the form submitted by a veteran. It must come from a licensed physician.
When filling out the form, your doctor needs to include two important pieces of information:
- A detailed medical history about your condition, your symptoms, and any other relevant information that affect the decision by the VA.
- A professional opinion about how your hypertension impacts your ability to perform on the job.
The claims examiner reviews this information and assigns a disability rating for your high blood pressure.
Applying For Disability With High Blood Pressure
applications for disabilityapproved on the basis of high blood pressure for Social Security Disability or SSIDisability criteria for hypertension fall under section 4.03, titled Hypertensive Cardiovascular disease. However, this listing, like so many others, refers to the criteria designated in other listings. Basically, disability applicants with high blood pressure are evaluated under the SSA criteria for chronic heart failure and ischemic heart disease Applying for disability with coronary artery diseaseMost popular topics on SSDRC.com
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Contact An Experienced North Carolina Ssd Benefits Lawyer
The SSA maintains a list of impairments that are considered so severe that they automatically qualify one for disability benefits as long as all other requirements are met. These conditions are found in the SSAs Blue Book, which describes the medical evidence that is needed to prove the impairment.
You can also be declared disabled if you have a condition that is considered to be equal in severity to a listed impairment.
Even if you dont have a listed impairment or one considered equal in severity to a listed one, you may still be deemed to be disabled if you can show that your medical condition keeps you from working or doing any other type of work.
Allow Hardison & Cochran to put its skill and experience to work for you in seeking disability benefits. In particular, we can help you to gather the medical evidence you need to show you are disabled.
Contact us today and receive a free and immediate review of your case.
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Can I Receive Disability Benefits For High Blood Pressure
Many people who apply for Social Security disability benefits underestimate the complex process and qualifications the Social Security Administration has detailed. Typically, for an individual to qualify for disability benefits, SSI or SSDI, he or she must meet a few eligibility requirements.
One of the qualifications to receive disability benefits includes your inability to work due to your condition. The Social Security Administration has developed a Blue Book which outlines and details the various qualifiable medical conditions.
Of those medically disabling conditions listed, the cardiovascular system is included.
The cardiovascular system is responsible for multiple functioning components, including:
- The heart
- Nutrients
- Hormones
However, since the cardiovascular system is complex in and of itself it leaves room for the SSA to create a variety of restrictions and variables associated with its disabling conditions.
The Social Security Administration has outlined the medically disabling conditions required to qualify for disability benefits.
As outlined in the following section by the Social Security Administration, high blood pressure can be a qualifying medically disabling condition according to the following:
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Is High Blood Pressure A Disability Covered By The Ada
The answer is yes, according to the ruling of a federal appeals court in the case, Gogos v. AMS Mech. Sys., Inc., 737 F.3d 1170, 1173 .
In this case, the plaintiff had a blood pressure spike that created a short-terms problem that quickly passed. The court mainly decided what the transitory nature of the spike meant in terms of whether the high blood pressure was a condition constituting a disability under the ADA with the following analysis:
Lexington, Kentucky ADA lawyer Robert Abell represents individuals and employees in disability discrimination cases under the ADA contact him at 859-254-7076.
Hypertension Secondary To Sleep Apnea
By law, service connection may be established on a secondary basis for a disability which is proximately due to or the result of service-connected disease or injury. See 38 CFR § 3.310.
Establishing service connection on a secondary basis requires evidence sufficient to show Medical diagnosis of Hypertension and Obstructive Sleep Apnea that the Hypertension was either proximately caused by or proximately aggravated by a service-connected disability. Allen v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 439, 448 .
When there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding any issue material to the determination of a matter, the Secretary shall give the benefit of the doubt to the claimant. 38 USCA § 5107 38 CFR § 3.102 see also Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 49, 53 .
To service connect Hypertension secondary to Sleep Apnea, youll need to get a Medical Nexus Letter to support the connection between Hypertension and Sleep Apnea.
The American Heart Association has said that as many as 50% of all patients with sleep apnea may have underlying hypertension, and many patients with hypertension, particularly resistant hypertension, may also have OSA.
According to medical research, Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a recognized cause of hypertension .
Apneic episodes from Sleep Apnea produce surges in systolic and diastolic pressure that keep mean blood pressure levels elevated at night.
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An Attorney Can Help You Appeal Your Disability Claim For Your Heart Condition
Veterans can file an application for heart-related VA disability on their own. However, they must still be able to prove a causal connection between their military service and their heart condition in order to be considered for disability. At Cuddigan Law, our VA disability attorneys can gather medical information from your service record to help get your appeal approved. Contact Cuddigan Law today or download a free copy of our book, The Essential Guide to VA Disability Claims, to learn more.
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Unsure About Disability Benefits
Being diagnosed with high blood pressure alone will not automatically qualify you for disability benefits. However, the effects of your high blood pressure that severely inhibits your ability to work is one element of disability benefit eligibility.
If youre unsure how your high blood pressure can qualify you for disability benefits or, if you are simply unsure how to proceed with the Social Security Administrations application process, contact an experienced and compassionate disability advocate today!
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Agent Orange And Secondary Service
Diabetes: Agent Orange is responsible for giving untold numbers of troops diabetes. What many veterans dont realize is all the conditions caused by their diabetes may also be considered service-connected. For example, if you were in Vietnam and have diabetes that caused neuropathy, the latter is one of your secondary service-connected disabilities.
Heart Disease: Agent Orange is believed to cause heart disease. If you were a veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange and has heart disease, you could be eligible. You may also be eligible for any condition caused by heart disease. Some veterans may be able to secondary service-connect their peripheral artery disease, heart attack, and stroke to their service-connected heart disease.
Some veterans with serious mental conditions may have heart disease as a secondary service-connected impairment. Stress, depression, and anxiety can lead to heart disease and related conditions. Many mental conditions can lead to extreme strain on the heart and cardiovascular system.
Hypertension: Hypertension is generally service-connected through Agent Orange diabetes claims. Hypertension can be caused by diabetes. You can also service-connect impairments related to hypertension like aneurysms, damage to the heart, strokes, and kidney problems.
One of our VA disability lawyers goes over the Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions list in this video:
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Let Attorney Carmichael Help You Win Your Fibromyalgia Disability Case
Experiencing fibromyalgia? Not able to work because of it? We can help. Social Security has a specific Social Security ruling that deals with fibromyalgia. Social Security Ruling 12-2p states that fibromyalgia can be the basis for a disability finding. But like with anything, in order for Social Security to consider the severity of your fibromyalgia, we must show that you have objective evidence to confirm the diagnosis. Also, with respect to fibromyalgia we need a doctor to observe upon physical examination that you have eleven out of eighteen positive tender points upon physical examination.
When you receive medical treatment, it is important that the doctor notes when hes physically examining you and showing where those tender points are because under Social Security Ruling 12-2p we need eleven out of eighteen positive tender points. In addition to that objective diagnosis of fibromyalgia required under the ruling, we also need your medical records to show the symptoms that you are experiencing.
Fibromyalgia causes individuals to experience a lot of symptoms certainly the biggest one: PAIN. You need to tell your doctor where you are experiencing pain and any other symptoms that you are experiencing. Also, if you are experiencing problems with fatigue, report that to your doctor.
If you have any questions about how to start a fibromyalgia claim or if you need help with your fibromyalgia case please give Disability Attorney Brian Carmichael a call at .
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