Receiving Veterans Disability Benefits For High Blood Pressure

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three Americans suffers from hypertension. In other words, an estimated 70 million people across the country have high blood pressure. Hypertension can be caused by a number of factors, including genetics, age, a poor diet, bad lifestyle choices, stress, drug and alcohol use, sleep apnea, obesity, thyroid issues, and medication side effects. Many people have high blood pressure due to a combination of these factors. However, some people suffer from hypertension due to their service in the military.

Treatment for hypertension
 
The treatment for hypertension depends on the cause of your high blood pressure as well as the seriousness of your condition. In most cases, doctors recommend a combination of lifestyle changes and prescription medication.

A doctor will likely ask you to stop smoking and drinking, eat a healthy low-fat, low-sodium diet, begin regularly exercising, lose weight, and reduce stress. In addition, you will likely be placed on a drug such as a beta-blocker, a calcium channel blocker, or an ACE inhibitor.

Finally, a doctor will ask that you follow up for blood pressure checks regularly in the future.

Consequences of hypertension
 
Only about half of Americans with high blood pressure has their condition under control. Those who do not treat their medical condition can be faced with heart issues, kidney disease, vision loss, erectile dysfunction, and hardened arteries. Even more seriously, high blood pressure can result in heart attack, stroke, and death.

Hypertension and military service
 
Because high blood pressure is such a common health concern, many veterans suffer from this problem. However, not all veterans who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure qualify for veterans’ disability benefits. In order to receive benefits for your hypertension, you must either prove that your hypertension was directly caused by your military service or you must have been exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

If you are not sure whether your hypertension qualifies you for veterans’ disability benefits, it is best to discuss your specific case with an attorney. The Dallas veterans’ disability attorneys at Morgan & Weisbrod can help you better understand your case and secure the disability payments that you deserve. Call today to schedule a no-obligation consultation.

by Paul B. Burkhalter
Managing Partner of Morgan & Weisbrod, Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.

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