C&P Exam for Hypertensive vascular disease (DC 7101)

Diagnostic code: 7101Condition: Hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension)Regulation: 38 CFR § 4.104DBQ: DBQ CARDIO Hypertension

Which form the examiner uses

For hypertensive vascular disease (DC 7101), the C&P examiner completes the following Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ):

DBQs are Department of Veterans Affairs Form 21-0960 series documents. Public DBQs are hosted on benefits.va.gov. A handful are examiner-only and are not posted publicly.

What the examiner records

The fields below are reproduced from the DBQ form the examiner completes for this diagnostic code. This is the structural map of the form, showing what the examiner is asked to measure, observe, and record. It is a factual reproduction of the public DBQ, not advice on how to answer.

This DBQ evaluates the diagnosis, history, blood pressure measurements, and functional impact of hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension.

DIAGNOSIS (Section I)
  • DOES THE VETERAN CURRENTLY HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF HYPERTENSION OR ISOLATED SYSTOLIC HYPERTENSION BASED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA? Yes / No
  • Hypertension ICD code:
  • Hypertension Date of diagnosis
  • Isolated systolic hypertension ICD code:
  • Isolated systolic hypertension Date of diagnosis
  • OTHER (Specify):
  • OTHER DIAGNOSIS #1: ICD code: Date of diagnosis:
  • OTHER DIAGNOSIS #2: ICD code: Date of diagnosis:
  • 1B. IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSES THAT PERTAIN TO HYPERTENSION OR ISOLATED SYSTOLIC HYPERTENSION, LIST USING ABOVE FORMAT:
MEDICAL HISTORY (Section II)
  • 2A. DESCRIBE THE HISTORY (INCLUDING ONSET AND COURSE) OF THE VETERAN'S HYPERTENSION CONDITION (Brief summary):
  • 2B. DOES THE VETERAN'S TREATMENT PLAN INCLUDE TAKING CONTINUOUS MEDICATION FOR HYPERTENSION OR ISOLATED SYSTOLIC HYPERTENSION? Yes / No
  • (If yes, list only those medications used for the diagnosed conditions):
  • 2C. WAS THE VETERAN'S INITIAL DIAGNOSIS OF HYPERTENSION OR ISOLATED SYSTOLIC HYPERTENSION CONFIRMED BY BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS TAKEN 2 OR MORE TIMES ON AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT DAYS? Yes / No / Unknown
  • (If yes, provide BP readings used to establish initial diagnosis, if known) Reading #1: / Reading #2: / Date of Reading: [Day 1]
  • (If yes, provide BP readings used to establish initial diagnosis, if known) Reading #1: / Reading #2: / Date of Reading: [Day 2]
  • (If yes, provide BP readings used to establish initial diagnosis, if known) Reading #1: / Reading #2: / Date of Reading: [Day 3]
  • (If no, report BP readings taken 2 or more times on at least 3 different days) Reading #1: / Reading #2: / Date of Reading: [Day 1]
  • (If no, report BP readings taken 2 or more times on at least 3 different days) Reading #1: / Reading #2: / Date of Reading: [Day 2]
  • (If no, report BP readings taken 2 or more times on at least 3 different days) Reading #1: / Reading #2: / Date of Reading: [Day 3]
  • 2D. DOES THE VETERAN HAVE A HISTORY OF A DIASTOLIC BP ELEVATION TO PREDOMINANTLY 100 OR MORE? Yes / No
  • (If yes, describe frequency and severity of diastolic BP elevation):
  • 2E. CURRENT (DATE OF EVALUATION/S) BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS - Reading #1: / Date of Reading:
  • 2E. CURRENT (DATE OF EVALUATION/S) BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS - Reading #2: / Date of Reading:
  • 2E. CURRENT (DATE OF EVALUATION/S) BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS - Reading #3: / Date of Reading:
OTHER PERTINENT PHYSICAL FINDINGS, COMPLICATIONS, CONDITIONS, SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND SCARS (Section III)
  • 3A. DOES THE VETERAN HAVE ANY OTHER PERTINENT PHYSICAL FINDINGS, COMPLICATIONS, CONDITIONS, SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS RELATED TO THE CONDITIONS LISTED IN THE DIAGNOSIS SECTION ABOVE? Yes / No
  • If yes, describe (brief summary):
  • 3B. DOES THE VETERAN HAVE ANY SCARS (SURGICAL OR OTHERWISE) RELATED TO ANY CONDITIONS OR TO THE TREATMENT OF ANY CONDITIONS LISTED IN THE DIAGNOSIS SECTION ABOVE? Yes / No
  • 3C. COMMENTS, IF ANY:
FUNCTIONAL IMPACT (Section IV)
  • 4A. DOES THE VETERAN'S HYPERTENSION OR ISOLATED SYSTOLIC HYPERTENSION IMPACT HIS OR HER ABILITY TO WORK? Yes / No
  • (If yes, describe the impact of the veteran's hypertension or isolated systolic hypertension, providing one or more examples):
REMARKS (Section V)
  • 5A. REMARKS (IF ANY):

Rating Levels for DC 7101

The following tiers are reproduced from 38 CFR Part 4, the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Toggle between the official VA criteria and a Plain English explanation.

Plain-English summaries are AI-generated to explain the official criteria. The official 38 CFR language is the binding legal standard. When in doubt, ask a VSO.

Evidence cited in published BVA decisions for DC 7101

The counts below are aggregated from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code. Each row reports how often a given evidence type was discussed in the decision text, broken down by outcome. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not a prediction or recommendation about any specific claim.

  • VA examination: appeared in 425 granted decisions (189 denied, 276 remanded; 890 total)
  • Private medical opinion: appeared in 140 granted decisions (19 denied, 58 remanded; 217 total)
  • Medical literature: appeared in 71 granted decisions (10 denied, 15 remanded; 96 total)
  • Nexus letter: appeared in 59 granted decisions (8 denied, 21 remanded; 88 total)
  • Service treatment records: appeared in 43 granted decisions (42 denied, 59 remanded; 144 total)
  • Buddy / lay statements: appeared in 38 granted decisions (14 denied, 38 remanded; 90 total)

What the Board discussed in granted decisions for DC 7101

The themes below were extracted by clustering 500 grant-factor sentences from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code. Frequencies indicate how often each theme appeared in the sample. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not advice or strategy for any specific claim.

  1. 27% Benefit of the doubt standard stated or applied
    The Board cited the legal standard that when evidence is in approximate balance, the benefit of the doubt is resolved in the claimant's favor, or noted it had applied that doctrine in reaching its conclusion.
    134 of 500 sample sentences
  2. 15% Positive nexus opinion linking hypertension to service or PTSD
    A VA or private examiner opined that the Veteran's hypertension was at least as likely as not incurred in, caused by, or aggravated by active service, herbicide exposure, or a service-connected condition such as PTSD or diabetes.
    74 of 500 sample sentences
  3. 10% Benefit of the doubt doctrine found inapplicable
    The Board noted that because the preponderance of the evidence weighed against the claim, the benefit of the doubt doctrine was not applicable and the claim was denied.
    48 of 500 sample sentences
  4. 9% Evidence found in relative equipoise on hypertension claim
    The Board found that the positive and negative evidence regarding the Veteran's hypertension claim was in relative equipoise or approximate balance, warranting a grant of service connection or an increased rating.
    43 of 500 sample sentences
  5. 6% Positive nexus opinions linking other disabilities to service or service-connected conditions
    Examiners opined that non-hypertension disabilities were at least as likely as not incurred in service or caused or aggravated by service-connected conditions, cited as supporting evidence in the record.
    28 of 500 sample sentences
  6. 5% Examiner asked whether hypertension is at least as likely as not related to service
    The Board or remand order directed a VA examiner to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension had its onset in, was caused by, or was aggravated by active service or a service-connected condition.
    24 of 500 sample sentences
  7. 4% Positive nexus opinion linking hypertension secondary to another service-connected condition
    A VA or private examiner opined that the Veteran's hypertension was at least as likely as not proximately due to, the result of, or permanently aggravated by a service-connected condition such as diabetes mellitus, PTSD, or obesity.
    20 of 500 sample sentences
  8. 3% Board found service connection for hypertension warranted after weighing evidence
    The Board concluded, based on the weight of the evidence and applying the benefit of the doubt, that the evidence supports granting service connection for hypertension or an increased disability rating.
    14 of 500 sample sentences
  9. 2% Examiner asked for nexus opinion on conditions secondary to hypertension or diabetes
    The Board or remand order directed an examiner to opine whether cardiovascular, renal, or other conditions were at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's hypertension or diabetes.
    10 of 500 sample sentences
  10. 1% Heightened duty to assist noted due to missing or destroyed service records
    The Board acknowledged VA's heightened obligation to explain findings, assist the claimant, and carefully consider the benefit of the doubt rule when service treatment records were missing, destroyed, or unavailable.
    4 of 500 sample sentences
  11. 1% Increased disability rating granted after affording benefit of the doubt
    The Board found that affording the Veteran the benefit of the doubt, the symptomatology most nearly approximated a higher disability rating under DC 7101 or a related diagnostic code.
    4 of 500 sample sentences
  12. 1% NAS Update or scientific literature cited supporting herbicide-hypertension association
    The Board cited the 2018 NAS Update or other scientific literature establishing a sufficient association between herbicide agent exposure and hypertension as supporting evidence for the claim.
    3 of 500 sample sentences
View the full DC 7101 pageSearch BVA decisions for this codeAbout DBQ forms

Disclaimer: This page reproduces public Department of Veterans Affairs forms (DBQs) and verbatim text from 38 CFR Part 4 (the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities). It is informational only and is not legal or medical advice. For guidance on a specific claim, contact a VA-accredited representative.