Citation Nr: 18151874
Decision Date: 11/20/18	Archive Date: 11/20/18

DOCKET NO. 15-28 143
DATE:	November 20, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating more than 20 percent for hypertension with cardiomegaly is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from August 1979 to December 1982.  This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).
In November 2018 the Veteran testified before the undersigned at a Board hearing held via videoconference.  
Entitlement to a rating more than 20 percent for hypertension with cardiomegaly is remanded.
The Veteran contends that his service-connected hypertension with cardiomegaly has increased in severity in that it requires higher doses of medication but remains poorly controlled.  He was last afforded a VA examination for hypertension in January 2011.  A contemporaneous examination to assess the severity of the hypertension with cardiomegaly is necessary.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain for the record updated to the present complete clinical records (all outstanding) of treatment the Veteran has received for hypertension.
2.  Obtain any outstanding private treatment records, to include emergency room records from St. Francis, Columbus.
3.  Arrange for the Veteran to be examined by an appropriate clinician to assess the current severity of his service-connected hypertension with cardiomegaly.  The record must be reviewed by the examiner in conjunction with the examination.  The examiner should note the predominant range of the Veteran’s current blood pressure readings, whether the hypertension is controlled by medication, and the predominant range of blood pressure readings before control with medication.
 
H.M. WALKER
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	M. McPhaull, Counsel