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

Read the C&P exam preparation guideWhat happens at the exam, what 38 CFR Part 4 requires the examiner to record, and what to bring.

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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):

DBQ CARDIO Hypertension (public PDF on VA.gov)

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 to expect at your C&P exam

A hypertension exam is brief: the examiner confirms the diagnosis with blood-pressure readings and reviews your treatment. The rating is set by your blood-pressure numbers under 38 CFR 4.104.

1Initial interview (history)

When you were diagnosed and what medications you take.
Whether your blood pressure is controlled.
Any related conditions (heart, kidney, or eye problems).

2Physical examination

Blood-pressure measurement, usually two or more readings taken on different days.
Heart and general exam.
Basic blood and urine tests to check the heart and kidneys for effects of high blood pressure.

3Functional assessment

Your systolic and diastolic readings, which set the rating, and whether you need continuous medication.
Findings map to the tiers in 38 CFR 4.104, DC 7101.

Test explainers open MedlinePlus (NIH National Library of Medicine), or Wikipedia where MedlinePlus has no matching page. This describes what happens and what is measured, not how to influence a result.

What the examiner records (full DBQ form)

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.

How DC 7101 maps to this DBQ: for this diagnostic code specifically, the examiner typically completes sections I-V of this form. Section III is the condition-specific section for this code.

5 of 5 sections apply to DC 7101 on this DBQ

DIAGNOSIS (Section I) MEDICAL HISTORY (Section II) OTHER PERTINENT PHYSICAL FINDINGS, COMPLICATIONS, CONDITIONS, SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND SCARS (Section III) FUNCTIONAL IMPACT (Section IV) REMARKS (Section V)

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, among issues the Board granted or denied (remanded issues are not included). 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 9607 granted decisions (22635 denied; 32242 decided total)
Service treatment records: appeared in 7619 granted decisions (21109 denied; 28728 decided total)
Private medical opinion: appeared in 4385 granted decisions (8301 denied; 12686 decided total)
Buddy / lay statements: appeared in 4296 granted decisions (11050 denied; 15346 decided total)
Nexus letter: appeared in 3698 granted decisions (3167 denied; 6865 decided total)
Medical literature: appeared in 1571 granted decisions (1672 denied; 3243 decided 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.

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

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.