Citation Nr: 19161024 Decision Date: 08/07/19 Archive Date: 08/06/19 DOCKET NO. 1905480 DATE: August 7, 2019 ORDER A 10 percent rating, but no more, for hypertension is granted, subject to the payment of monetary benefits. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. The Veteran served on active duty from February 1979 to February 1999. 2. Hypertension requires continuous medication for control with reported diastolic pressures over 100. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for a 10 percent rating, but no more, for hypertension have been met. 38 U.S.C. § §§ 1155, 5103(a), 5103A, 5107 (2012); 38 C.F.R. § §§ 3.102, 4.3, 4.7, 4.104, Diagnostic Code (DC) 7101 (2018). REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION Disability evaluations are determined by the application of a schedule of ratings which is based on average impairment of earning capacity. Generally, the degrees of disability specified are considered adequate to compensate for considerable loss of working time from exacerbations or illnesses proportionate to the severity of the several grades of disability. 38 C.F.R. § § 4.1. Separate diagnostic codes identify the various disabilities. 38 U.S.C. § § 1155; 38 C.F.R. § Part 4. Hypertension is rated as noncompensable pursuant to DC 7101. In the July 2018 notice of disagreement, the Veteran argued that a 10 or 20 percent rating is warranted because his diastolic pressure had been 100 or more since active duty and he had been on medication since that time. Under DC 7101, a 10 percent evaluation is warranted where diastolic blood pressure is predominantly 100 or more, or systolic blood pressure is predominantly 160 or more, or when an individual with a history of diastolic blood pressure predominantly 100 or more requires continuous medication for control. A 20 percent rating is warranted with diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more. In an August 2017 clinical record, the blood pressure reading was 158/93. An April 2018 VA examination report noted blood pressure readings of 155/95, 156/99, and 159/100. The examiner noted that the Veteran required continuous medication for control of hypertension. While it was also noted that he had a history of diastolic blood pressure elevation to predominantly 100 or more, the examiner followed up by specifically noting that the diastolic blood pressure reading was 95 and higher when monitored by health care professionals and between 95 and 90 when the Veteran monitored it at home. Nonetheless, the Veteran has competently asserted that his blood pressure readings have been over 100. In light of the above, a 10 percent rating, but no more, is warranted for hypertension based on reported reading over 100 and the continuous use of medication. His blood pressure readings do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent at any time in the appeal period. Therefore, a 10 percent rating, but no more, is granted. Finally, the Veteran has not raised any other issues, nor have any other issues been reasonably raised by the record, for the Board’s consideration. See Doucette v. Shulkin, 28 Vet. App. 366, 369-370 (2017) (confirming that the Board is not required to address issues unless they are specifically raised by the claimant or reasonably raised by the evidence of record). L. HOWELL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board E. Redman, Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.