Citation Nr: 20021697
Decision Date: 03/26/20	Archive Date: 03/26/20

DOCKET NO. 18-33 664
DATE: March 26, 2020

REMANDED

Entitlement to a compensable rating for hypertension is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active duty service from November 1981 to December 1990 and March 2003 to January 2005.  

This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2017 rating decision from a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

Entitlement to a compensable rating for hypertension is remanded.

The Veteran in this case contends that his hypertension has worsened.  See May 2018 VA Form 9.  The most recent VA examination addressing hypertension took place in March 2017.  At that examination, the Veteran reported that he is exclusively being treated for his hypertension through VA treating providers; significantly, the most recent VA treatment records associated with the claims file are dated from December 2017.  Accordingly, the Board finds that additional development is required.  

On remand, first, all outstanding VA treatment records should be associated with the claims file; thereafter, a current examination should be obtained.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1.  Associate with the claims file the all outstanding VA treatment records, to include any records associated with the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center from December 2017 to the present.

2.  Thereafter, the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to evaluate the current severity of service-connected hypertension.  

The electronic claims folders should be made available to the examiner for review in conjunction with the examination and the examiner should acknowledge such review in the examination report.  

Any indicated studies should be performed.  The examination should be conducted in accordance with the current disability benefits questionnaire or examination worksheet applicable to hypertension.  

The rationale for all opinions expressed must be provided.

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3.  After completing any additional development deemed necessary, readjudicate the claim.  If the benefit requested on appeal is not granted to the Veteran’s satisfaction, the appellant and his representative should be furnished a supplemental statement of the case and provided an opportunity to respond.  The case should then be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration, if in order.

 

 

Matt Schlickenmaier

Acting Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Carolyn M. Colley

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.