Citation Nr: 21076349
Decision Date: 12/23/21	Archive Date: 12/23/21

DOCKET NO. 19-30 701
DATE: December 23, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from December 1973 to May 1974 and from July 1975 to November 1976.

The Veteran asserted on his October 2019 VA Form 9 that he should be provided a higher rating for his hypertension because he took four medications to control his blood pressure.  

At his December 2020 hearing the Veteran stated that his blood pressure goes up and down from 190.  The Board notes that this testimony indicates that his hypertension may have increased in severity since his most recent (November 2019) VA examination for rating purposes.  At the November 2019 VA DBQ hypertension examination, the Veteran reported that his blood pressure was controlled at less than 140/90 mmHg.  His testimony of systolic pressures in the 190s is indicative of an increase in severity.  Accordingly, the Veteran must be provided a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his hypertension disability.  See Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997).

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain copies of the Veteran's updated VA treatment records. 

2. Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected hypertension.

 

 

G. A. WASIK

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	R. E. Jones, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.