High Blood Pressue VA Rating
07-05-2023, 09:05 AM
#1
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2022
Posts: 12
High Blood Pressue VA Rating
Retiring from the USAF and getting all my VA claim info in. Starting at AA this fall. My blood pressure is below FAA Class 1 max, been consistent, and have had my class 1 for over a year. Anybody have experience getting a hypertension rating from the VA and had issues with the FAA? The VA rating numbers are well below the FAA limit. I don't want to jepoardize my next career and also don't want to hide anything from the FAA.
Yes I know I need to get my crap together, but I have always ran kinda high, even as a fit 25 year old. (42 now)
Searched the forum and didn't get a real clear answer. My current AME is not great about getting back to me via phone calls/emails.
Thanks for any insights you can provide!
Yes I know I need to get my crap together, but I have always ran kinda high, even as a fit 25 year old. (42 now)
Searched the forum and didn't get a real clear answer. My current AME is not great about getting back to me via phone calls/emails.
Thanks for any insights you can provide!
07-05-2023, 10:29 AM
#2
Perennial Reserve
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 11,482
Originally Posted by Dr Bromus
Retiring from the USAF and getting all my VA claim info in. Starting at AA this fall. My blood pressure is below FAA Class 1 max, been consistent, and have had my class 1 for over a year. Anybody have experience getting a hypertension rating from the VA and had issues with the FAA? The VA rating numbers are well below the FAA limit. I don't want to jepoardize my next career and also don't want to hide anything from the FAA.
Yes I know I need to get my crap together, but I have always ran kinda high, even as a fit 25 year old. (42 now)
Searched the forum and didn't get a real clear answer. My current AME is not great about getting back to me via phone calls/emails.
Thanks for any insights you can provide!
Yes I know I need to get my crap together, but I have always ran kinda high, even as a fit 25 year old. (42 now)
Searched the forum and didn't get a real clear answer. My current AME is not great about getting back to me via phone calls/emails.
Thanks for any insights you can provide!
And while I THINK the FAA would like to use the AHA recommendations they are uncertain about their ability to convince the courts of the necessity to do that. Basically, if your doctor recommends treatment, go ahead and get it and the FDA will pretty much rubber stamp most accepted therapies as long as you are 155/95 or lower and having no threatening side effects.
07-05-2023, 10:39 AM
#3
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2022
Posts: 12
I may be overthinking this, and I was definitely not specific enough in my question. But thank you for your response, it did clear some things up for me.
There are a few VA claims that the FAA will generally not give an approval to fly for. (TBI, PTSD, etc..) Anybody have info on hypertension VA claim ABOVE the threshold for the VA, but BELOW the FAA limit? Would that be treated like any other generic claim like knees or back? Or would that flag me as a higher risk?
There are a few VA claims that the FAA will generally not give an approval to fly for. (TBI, PTSD, etc..) Anybody have info on hypertension VA claim ABOVE the threshold for the VA, but BELOW the FAA limit? Would that be treated like any other generic claim like knees or back? Or would that flag me as a higher risk?
07-05-2023, 10:47 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: 767/757 CA
Posts: 2,608
Originally Posted by Dr Bromus
Retiring from the USAF and getting all my VA claim info in. Starting at AA this fall. My blood pressure is below FAA Class 1 max, been consistent, and have had my class 1 for over a year. Anybody have experience getting a hypertension rating from the VA and had issues with the FAA? The VA rating numbers are well below the FAA limit. I don't want to jepoardize my next career and also don't want to hide anything from the FAA.
Yes I know I need to get my crap together, but I have always ran kinda high, even as a fit 25 year old. (42 now)
Searched the forum and didn't get a real clear answer. My current AME is not great about getting back to me via phone calls/emails.
Thanks for any insights you can provide!
Yes I know I need to get my crap together, but I have always ran kinda high, even as a fit 25 year old. (42 now)
Searched the forum and didn't get a real clear answer. My current AME is not great about getting back to me via phone calls/emails.
Thanks for any insights you can provide!
07-05-2023, 11:33 AM
#5
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2022
Posts: 12
Originally Posted by ugleeual
you can only get a VA disability rating if your BP is uncontrollable. FAA requires your physician to provide documentation showing the medication controls your BP and doesn’t show any type of adverse effects. In a nutshell you won’t get a FAA medical if it’s uncontrollable and probably won’t get a disability rating unless it’s really bad.
Thank you for the info.
07-05-2023, 11:36 AM
#6
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,003
Originally Posted by Dr Bromus
I may be overthinking this, and I was definitely not specific enough in my question. But thank you for your response, it did clear some things up for me.
There are a few VA claims that the FAA will generally not give an approval to fly for. (TBI, PTSD, etc..) Anybody have info on hypertension VA claim ABOVE the threshold for the VA, but BELOW the FAA limit? Would that be treated like any other generic claim like knees or back? Or would that flag me as a higher risk?
There are a few VA claims that the FAA will generally not give an approval to fly for. (TBI, PTSD, etc..) Anybody have info on hypertension VA claim ABOVE the threshold for the VA, but BELOW the FAA limit? Would that be treated like any other generic claim like knees or back? Or would that flag me as a higher risk?
If your medical status is insufficient to pass a FAA medical exam or obtain a waiver, then your VA status is irrelevant (other than you must disclose it).
If your medical status is sufficient to pass a FAA medical exam or obtain a waiver, then your VA status is irrelevant (other than you must disclose it).
07-06-2023, 06:26 AM
#7
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2022
Posts: 12
If your medical status is insufficient to pass a FAA medical exam or obtain a waiver, then your VA status is irrelevant (other than you must disclose it).
If your medical status is sufficient to pass a FAA medical exam or obtain a waiver, then your VA status is irrelevant (other than you must disclose it).
Thanks for the info. On paper I fall in the second category. Hopefully thats as complicated as it gets.
If your medical status is sufficient to pass a FAA medical exam or obtain a waiver, then your VA status is irrelevant (other than you must disclose it).
Thanks for the info. On paper I fall in the second category. Hopefully thats as complicated as it gets.
Last edited by Dr Bromus; 07-06-2023 at 06:28 AM. Reason: edited cause a noob
07-06-2023, 08:46 PM
#8
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,003
You'll be required to disclose any disability rating you have, and you must document it; the FAA may require any documentation, but you're also required to provide the documentation used to claim the military disability. This is simply disclosure. The standard is still the FAA's standard, with regard to medical certificate issuance.
07-07-2023, 06:41 AM
#9
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,003
Before you do anything, apply for the VA disability, or for a FAA medical, you really should consult a medical service that specializes in the curve balls of the FAA medical world, and let them guide you. AMAS (aviation medical advisory service) comes highly recommended.
https://www.aviationmedicine.com
If you happen to be an AOPA member, they have a subscriber service that provides assistance with legal questions and medical issues, though for a question such as yours, I'd go with AMAS first.
https://www.aviationmedicine.com
If you happen to be an AOPA member, they have a subscriber service that provides assistance with legal questions and medical issues, though for a question such as yours, I'd go with AMAS first.
07-07-2023, 01:09 PM
#10
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,232
Yes, AMAS or AOPA first.
Yes, your VA status does not control your FAA status, the FAA will make their own determination. They want to know about VA for obvious reasons, and obviously if you get a rating for something which is FAA DQ, then you have a problem.
Airlines pay a whole lot more than the VA.
Yes, your VA status does not control your FAA status, the FAA will make their own determination. They want to know about VA for obvious reasons, and obviously if you get a rating for something which is FAA DQ, then you have a problem.
Airlines pay a whole lot more than the VA.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
