Citation Nr: 21008519
Decision Date: 02/17/21	Archive Date: 02/17/21

DOCKET NO. 18-10 090
DATE: February 17, 2021

REMAND

The issue of service connection for hypertension is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from March 2000 to April 2006 and April 2009 to May 2010.

This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from an October 2016 rating decision of a Regional Office (RO) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The Veteran and his spouse testified at a Board hearing in July 2020.

The evidence shows that the Veteran had a single elevated blood pressure reading in February 2016.  At his hearing, the Veteran’s spouse, who is an Emergency Medical Technician described the Veteran’s symptoms, which she opined were classic signs of hypertension.  She indicated that they did not have a sphygmomanometer to take the Veteran’s blood pressure, but that she would do it manually and estimated his systolic pressure at 150.  The Veteran’s representative raised the issue of whether the Veteran’s service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder caused or worsened hypertension.  

The Board finds that a VA examination is warranted in this case.  See 38 U.S.C. § 5103A(d)(2); 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(4)(i); see also McClendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 81 (2006).  

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

Arrange for a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran currently has hypertension and whether it was incurred in service or was caused or worsened by his PTSD.  The examiner should review the claims file.

The examiner should first determine whether the Veteran has hypertension.  If so, the examiner is asked to provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s hypertension was incurred in service.  In addition the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether the Veteran’s hypertension was caused or worsened by the Veteran’s service-connected PTSD. In providing the requested opinion, the examiner should consider all relevant evidence of record, including both medical and lay evidence, citing to specific evidence where appropriate. 

The examiner must provide a medical rationale for all opinions expressed.  If the examiner cannot provide the requested opinion without resorting to speculation, it must be so stated, and the examiner must provide the reasons why an opinion would require speculation.  The examiner must indicate whether there was any further need for information or testing necessary to make a determination.  The examiner must indicate whether an opinion could not be rendered due to limitations of 

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knowledge in the medical community at large and not those of the particular examiner.

 

 

JAMES L. MARCH

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Monica Ball Jackson, 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.