Secondary Condition Claim · VASRD 7101
Hypertension Secondary to Aortic Aneurysm
A condition caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted its own service connection as a secondary condition under 38 CFR § 3.310. Here's how that works for Hypertension when it develops after Aortic Aneurysm.
Primary condition · VASRD 7110
Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic aneurysm involves abnormal bulging in the wall of the aorta that can rupture or require surgical repair.
Secondary condition · VASRD 7101
Hypertension
Hypertension is chronically elevated blood pressure that, left unmanaged, raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. It's one of the most common VA claims, both filed directly and as a PACT Act presumptive condition for many Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
Hypertension VA Rating Tiers
The VA rates Hypertension the same way whether it's claimed directly or as secondary to Aortic Aneurysm — severity of Hypertension itself determines the percentage.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 60% | Bottom blood-pressure number consistently at 130 or above |
| 40% | Bottom number consistently at 120 or above |
| 20% | Bottom number consistently at 110 or above, or top number consistently at 200 or above |
| 10% | Bottom number consistently at 100 or above, or top number consistently at 160 or above — or, if medication now controls it, a documented history of a bottom number predominantly 100 or more that requires continuous medication |
Example combined rating
100% Aortic Aneurysm + 20% Hypertension = 100%
The VA combines ratings with Table I of 38 CFR 4.25, not simple addition — 100% and 20% combine to 100%, not 120%. These figures are illustrative; your actual rating for each condition depends on your own evaluation.
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Evidence for a Hypertension Secondary Claim
- •Blood pressure readings from primary care visits across multiple dates - this is the core evidence the rating schedule requires.
- •VA Compensation & Pension exam results, where the examiner takes their own set of readings.
- •A treatment and medication history showing what's been prescribed and how consistently blood pressure has stayed elevated despite treatment.
Common questions about Hypertension secondary to Aortic Aneurysm
- Can Hypertension be service-connected as secondary to Aortic Aneurysm?
- Yes. Under 38 CFR § 3.310, a condition that is caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted secondary service connection. You'll need a current Hypertension diagnosis and a medical nexus opinion linking it to your service-connected Aortic Aneurysm — the same standard the VA uses for a…
- What VA rating can I get for Hypertension as a secondary condition?
- Hypertension is rated under VASRD diagnostic code 7101 using the same criteria whether it's a direct or secondary claim: possible ratings are 60%, 40%, 20%, 10%. The rating depends on the severity of Hypertension itself, not on the severity of Aortic Aneurysm.
- How does a secondary Hypertension claim affect my combined VA rating?
- The VA doesn't add ratings together. Using the official combined-ratings formula (38 CFR 4.25): a 100% rating for Aortic Aneurysm combined with a 20% rating for Hypertension (example figures) produces a combined rating of 100%, not 120%. Approving Hypertension as secondary still typically raises your overall combined…
- What evidence do I need to service-connect Hypertension as secondary to Aortic Aneurysm?
- Strong evidence for the underlying Hypertension diagnosis includes: Blood pressure readings from primary care visits across multiple dates - this is the core evidence the rating schedule requires.; VA Compensation & Pension exam results, where the examiner takes their own set of readings.; A treatment and medication h…
Primary condition
Full Aortic Aneurysm guide
Secondary condition
Full Hypertension guide
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See how Aortic Aneurysm and Hypertension combine with the rest of your service-connected conditions using the official VA combined-ratings formula.
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