Citation Nr: 18157292
Decision Date: 12/12/18	Archive Date: 12/12/18

DOCKET NO. 14-31 255
DATE:	December 12, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for high blood pressure (HBP) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from March 1979 to June 1985.
In November 2018, the Veteran appeared before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a travel board hearing at the San Juan Regional Office (RO).
Entitlement to service connection for HBP is remanded.
The Board finds that additional development is needed prior to final adjudication of the issue on appeal.  First, based on testimony given at the November 2018 Travel Board hearing, the Board finds that there may be outstanding treatment records from the Veteran’s time in service.  The Veteran indicated that while in service he was put on profile for being overweight.  He remembers being seen at the Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he was administered a three-part test for blood pressure.  He also remembers being given medication.  Records reflecting this treatment have not been associated with the claim file.  Accordingly, the Board will remand to attempt to obtain these records.
In addition, the Veteran indicated that he has applied for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA), and is currently appealing a denial of benefits.  Accordingly, upon remand, these records should be obtained.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. After securing any necessary consent forms from the Veteran, obtain any outstanding treatment records, to include any VA and/or private treatment records, pertaining to the issue on appeal.  
In particular, the Board points to records from 1985, the last year that the Veteran was in service, from the Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he may have received treatment for high blood pressure, including medication and a three-part test.
In addition, obtain records from the SSA pertaining to any application or award of disability benefits to the Veteran.
All efforts to obtain these records should be documented in the claim file.  If any records could not be obtained, this should be noted in the claim file.




2. If upon completion of the above action the issue is denied, the case should be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures.
 
E. I. VELEZ
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	K. Foster, Associate Counsel