Citation Nr: 21010533 Decision Date: 02/25/21 Archive Date: 02/25/21 DOCKET NO. 11-24 590 DATE: February 25, 2021 ORDER Service connection for hypertension is granted. FINDING OF FACT Resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, he has a diagnosis of hypertension which is related to his active duty service. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for service connection for hypertension have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.304, 3.307, 3.309. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from July 2000 to July 2004. In October 2013, the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans’ Law Judge. A copy of the transcript is associated with the record. The Board has previously remanded this matter on multiple occasions. Service Connection Service connection requires competent evidence showing: (1) the existence of a present disability; (2) in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) a causal relationship between the present disability and the disease or injury incurred or aggravated during service. Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163, 1167 (Fed. Cir. 2004); see also Caluza v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 498 (1995). The determination as to whether these requirements are met is based on an analysis of all the evidence of record and the evaluation of its credibility and probative value. Baldwin v. West, 13 Vet. App. 1 (1999); 38 C.F.R. § 3.303 (a). Service connection may be presumed for certain chronic diseases which develop to a compensable degree within one year after discharge from service, even though there is no evidence of such disease during the period of service. That presumption is rebuttable by probative evidence to the contrary. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1101, 1112, 1113, 1137; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.307, 3.309(a). In deciding the Veteran’s claim, VA is responsible for determining whether the evidence supports the claim or is in relative equipoise, with the Veteran prevailing in either event; or whether a preponderance of the evidence is against the claim, in which case the claim is denied. 38 U.S.C. § 5107; Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 49, 53-56 (1990). When there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding any issue material to the determination, the benefit of the doubt is afforded the claimant. Hypertension The Veteran sought service connection for his hypertension, including as due to his service in Southwest Asia or as due to his service connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with anxiety. In this matter, the evidence of record shows that the Veteran underwent a VA examination in September 2004 and that he was diagnosed with hypertension. The Board notes that this diagnosis occurred within two months of the Veteran’s separation from service. Furthermore, a November 2017 VA examiner noted that the Veteran had been clinically diagnosed with hypertension based on his three day blood pressure readings in September 2004. The examiner found that the Veteran’s hypertension had manifested within a year of his service. Though there are VA examinations which found that the Veteran’s hypertension was not related to his active duty service, those examination reports either did not address direct service connection or disagreed with the Veteran’s 2004 hypertension diagnosis. At a minimum, the evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s hypertension is in equipoise. As such and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that service connection for hypertension is warranted. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Parrish, 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.