Question:

Hello Jim, I filed a VA claim for syncope as I was diagnosed with it initially in the 97th Army General Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany in 1970. The actual diagnosis was syncope secondary to postural hypertension. I was turned down because the VA board stated that they do not award benefits for conditions related to blood pressure. This is in spite of the fact that I had never blacked out in my life previous to the first time in Bahrain. I did not have very much documentation, but my duty stations show that I spent time in the hospital in Frankfurt, Germany and Naval hospital, Pensacola. Any advice would be appreciated.

Jim's Reply:

Wow, you were at the 97th in Frankfurt at the same time I was at the 98th in Neubrucke/Nahe southwest of Frankfurt, near Camp Baumholder, small world.

It's not at all true that VA doesn't award benefits related to blood pressure. There are many benefits related both directly and indirectly...your blood pressure is pretty important!

Orthostatic hypotension is a complex issue that is rated under other diagnostic codes since it isn't listed in The Schedule. I'd suggest that you do 2 things. First, read this case from the BVA https://www.va.gov/vetapp15/Files5/1544240.txt

Then talk with a veterans law attorney about an appeal https://www.vawatchdog.org/how-to-hire-a-veterans-law-attorney.html