Citation Nr: 21073842 Decision Date: 12/10/21 Archive Date: 12/10/21 DOCKET NO. 19-38 164 DATE: December 10, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for hypertension is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active military service from April 1966 to April 1968. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (the Board) following a September 2018 rating decision in which the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) denied the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for hypertension. 1. Entitlement to Service Connection for Hypertension The Veteran asserts, in pertinent part, that his hypertension is the result of his exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand and Vietnam. Private and VA treatment records show that he has a diagnosis of hypertension. His military personnel records show that he was assigned to the 21st Medical Depot in Thailand from March 1967 to March 1968. VA was also able to confirm that the 21st Medical Depot was stationed in Korat, Thailand. The Veteran's DD 214 indicates that his MOS was equipment storage specialist. However, he has consistently reported that while stationed at Camp Friendship in Korat, Thailand, his duties required him to work adjacent to the perimeter of the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, as well as to cross the base perimeter several times per day in order to deliver supplies to various locations throughout Thailand. He states that his unit occupied a warehouse next to the 31st Field Hospital, which was approximately 200 to 300 feet from the perimeter of the base airstrip. He has also submitted maps of the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base and lay statements from other servicemembers from his unit to support his contention that his unit worked in close proximity to the base's perimeter. Based upon a comprehensive review of the record, the Board finds that the evidence demonstrates that the Veteran's duties put him in close proximity to the perimeter of the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Vietnam era. His exposure to herbicide agents is therefore conceded. Given the finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents, that he has a current diagnosis of hypertension, and, that there is insufficient medical evidence of record to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, a Remand is deemed necessary to afford the Veteran a VA examination. McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 81 (2006). The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the etiology of his hypertension. Following review of the Veteran's claims file, with any necessary examination and testing, the examiner should opine on whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred in or otherwise etiologically related to his active service, to include exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Thailand. The examiner must provide a rationale for the opinion proffered. Additionally, the examiner must address the relevance of the NAS finding that that there is sufficient evidence of an association between exposure to herbicide agents and hypertension. (Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 11). MICHAEL A. HERMAN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board R.M. Sachs, Associate Counsel 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.