Citation Nr: 21005432 Decision Date: 02/01/21 Archive Date: 02/01/21 DOCKET NO. 16-35 999A DATE: February 1, 2021 ORDER Service connection for hypertension is granted. FINDING OF FACT The Veteran’s hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and coronary artery disease. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected PTSD and coronary artery disease are met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.310. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran had active service in the U.S. Army from October 1966 to August 1968. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2012 rating decision. The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a Board hearing in November 2019. The matter was then remanded for additional development in January 2020. The matter was previously remanded to obtain VA medical opinions on the etiology of the Veteran’s diagnosed hypertension. Specifically, the opinions were to address the relationship, if any, between the Veteran’s hypertension and his in-service herbicide exposure, and between his hypertension and service-connected PTSD. In a February 2020 opinion, one VA examiner stated that hypertension was less likely than not related to service, including herbicide agent exposure in service. However, part of her rationale was that he had other health problems that could cause hypertension, including ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) and PTSD. In a September 2020 supplemental opinion, a different examiner stated that hypertension was not due to PTSD. He stated that stress can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure, but not persistent hypertension. Rather, he had other factors which caused hypertension, including age, family history, obesity, and tobacco and alcohol use. Upon review of the record, the Board finds the evidence to at least be in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD and coronary artery disease. Accordingly, after resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that service connection for hypertension is warranted. 38 U.S.C. § 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.102. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Shamil Patel, 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.