Date amended:
Atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease - Hypertension Factor
Hypertension
Definition
Hypertension is high blood pressure. Hypertension was also sometimes called hyperpiesia or hyperpiesis up until the 1950's. Blood pressure is usually recorded as two figures - the top figure records the systolic pressure and the lower figure records the diastolic pressure (eg 130/80 records a systolic pressure of 130 and a diastolic pressure of 80).
RMA definition of hypertension
Note: The definition means that hypertension cannot be diagnosed on the basis of one elevated blood pressure reading. There must be a number of high readings. When treatment is given, blood pressure readings may return to normal. However, a person with 'normal' blood pressure readings can still be suffering from hypertension if he or she is undergoing treatment for hypertension.
Establishing the onset of hypertension
This disease is significant and, if it has been detected, it will have been documented by a medical officer. However, doctors' notes and hospitals' records may have been destroyed or can no longer be obtained. If this is the case, the person's statement that hypertension was detected at a particular time should generally be accepted, However, if these records cannot be obtained, a reliable history of hypertension at a particular time will generally be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence. Obtain medical advice if it is unclear whether the claimed symptoms and treatment at that time can be attributed to hypertension rather than to some other condition.
LAST REVIEWED FOR CCPS 20 DECEMBER 2002.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS [9249]
317 the veteran has hypertension.
9308 the veteran has established the causal connection between the hypertension and VEA service for atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.
9311 the veteran suffered from hypertension before the clinical onset of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease of side and site of the body.
9309 the veteran has established the causal connection between the hypertension and VEA service for the clinical onset of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.
9313 the veteran has established the causal connection between the hypertension and operational service for the clinical onset of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.
or
9314 the veteran has established the causal connection between the hypertension and eligible service for the clinical onset of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.
or
7334 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.
7335 the condition under consideration permanently worsened.
9312 the veteran suffered from hypertension before the clinical worsening of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease of side and site of the body.
9310 the veteran has established the causal connection between the hypertension and VEA service for the clinical worsening of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.
9315 the veteran has established the causal connection between the hypertension and operational service for the clinical worsening of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.
or
9316 the veteran has established the causal connection between the hypertension and eligible service for the clinical worsening of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.
CLINICAL ONSET AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [9313]
334 the hypertension is causally related to operational service.
CLINICAL ONSET AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [9314]
934 the hypertension is causally related to eligible service.
CLINICAL WORSENING AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [9315]
334 the hypertension is causally related to operational service.
9317 the clinical onset of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease of side and site of the body occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the hypertension is causally related.
CLINICAL WORSENING AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [9316]
934 the hypertension is causally related to eligible service.
9318 the clinical onset of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease of side and site of the body occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the hypertension is causally related.