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Hypertension

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Last amended 
2 June 2015

Cerebral ischaemia - Hypertension Factor

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).

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 24 May 2007.

Preliminary questions [12569]

317       the veteran has hypertension.

12602 the veteran had hypertension at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, a cerebrovascular accident.

12597  the veteran has established the causal connection between the hypertension and VEA service for the clinical onset of cerebrovascular accident.

12598   the veteran has established the causal connection between the hypertension and operational service for the clinical onset of cerebrovascular accident.

or

12599   the veteran has established the causal connection between the hypertension and eligible service for the clinical onset of cerebrovascular accident.

Clinical onset and operational service [12598]

334        the hypertension is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [12599]

934        the hypertension is causally related to eligible service.