Rating guide · Cardiovascular
High Blood Pressure: Readings, Ratings and Agent Orange
A lot of Vietnam-era veterans in North Dakota have taken blood pressure pills for decades without ever claiming it. Since the PACT Act, many of them don’t need to prove a medical link at all.
- Exact rating criteria
- The readings rule
- 10% for controlled BP
- Agent Orange presumptive
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Hypertension Rating Criteria
2026 pay for a veteran with no dependents.
The Readings Rule, and the 10% Most Veterans Overlook
The VA needs hypertension confirmed by readings taken two or more times on at least three different days. For VA purposes, hypertension means a diastolic pressure (the bottom number) predominantly 90 or higher, or a systolic pressure (the top number) predominantly 160 or higher with diastolic under 90.
The important part: if your records show your diastolic pressure was predominantly 100 or more before medication, and you now need medication to control it, you qualify for at least 10%, even if your readings look fine today. Old records from before you started treatment can be worth tracking down.
Agent Orange: No Medical Link Needed
The PACT Act added high blood pressure to the Agent Orange presumptive list. If you served in Vietnam or one of the qualifying locations and periods, including bases in Thailand, Laos, certain areas of Cambodia, Guam, American Samoa and Johnston Atoll, you don’t need to prove what caused it. See the full list of locations and dates in our PACT Act guide.
What Causes It, and What It Causes
High blood pressure can be secondary to conditions like kidney disease, sleep apnea or PTSD, with a supporting medical opinion. In turn, service-connected hypertension can lead to heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. Hypertensive heart disease is rated separately from the hypertension itself.
Hypertension VA Rating: Common Questions
My blood pressure is normal on medication. Can I still get rated?
Possibly. The 10% minimum applies if you have a history of diastolic readings predominantly 100 or more and need continuous medication to control it.
Do I need to prove Agent Orange caused my high blood pressure?
Not if you served in a qualifying location during a qualifying period. Since the PACT Act, hypertension is presumptive for Agent Orange exposure.
How many readings does the VA need?
Readings taken two or more times on at least three different days.
Is heart disease included in my hypertension rating?
No. The VA rates hypertension separately from hypertensive heart disease and other heart conditions.
North Dakota Veterans: Get the Rating You Earned
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