Citation Nr: 18159464
Decision Date: 12/19/18	Archive Date: 12/19/18

DOCKET NO. 17-06 224
DATE:	December 19, 2018
REMANDED
The claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from January 1974 to January 27, 1976, with honorable service for VA purposes.  However, VA has characterized a second period of service, from January 28, 1976 to August 23, 1976, as ineligible for VA benefits due to his other than honorable (OTH) discharge for that period.  
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal of a rating decision by a U.S. Department of Veterans Appeals (VA) regional office (RO).  
A remand is warranted for medical inquiry into the claim on appeal.  
The Veteran asserts that during his first period of active duty, while serving in the Republic of Korea, he experienced significant family problems that caused him extreme stress.  He asserts that the stress changed him physically and mentally and led to the development of hypertension.  He has not been provided a VA compensation examination into his claim.  
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Undertake appropriate development to obtain any outstanding records pertinent to the claim.  
Attempt to obtain any private medical evidence pertaining to the treatment of hypertension.  
Include in the record any outstanding VA treatment records, the most recent of which are dated in March 2016.  
All records/responses received must be associated with the claims file.
2. Schedule an examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s hypertension.  After reviewing the claims folder, interviewing the Veteran, and examining the Veteran, the examiner should answer the following question: 
Is it at least as likely as not (i.e., probability of 50 percent or greater) that hypertension is related to a disease, event, or injury experienced during service? 
Consider the Veteran’s assertions that stress experienced in Korea during the first period of active duty led to physical and mental changes, and then to the development of hypertension.  
The period of service since January 27, 1976 to August 23, 1976 cannot form the basis of a favorable finding here, as VA determined this period of service was under dishonorable conditions and he is ineligible for VA benefits during that period.  
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Please explain in detail any opinion provided.
 
BISWAJIT CHATTERJEE
Acting Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Christopher McEntee, Counsel