Citation Nr: 21041936
Decision Date: 07/10/21	Archive Date: 07/10/21

DOCKET NO. 16-32 959
DATE: July 10, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for hypertension, to include as due to a fainting disability, is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served active duty in the United States Army from June 2003 to July 2007.

In July 2019, the Veteran testified before a Veterans Law Judge at a Video Conference hearing.  A copy of the transcript has been associated with the claims file.  The Board notes that in January 13, 2021 correspondence, the Board notified the Veteran that the Veterans Law Judge who conducted the hearing is no longer available to participate in the appeal.  The Veteran was notified that she had thirty days to request another optional hearing.  The Veteran did not respond within the allotted time.  Therefore, the Board will proceed accordingly.

In June 2020, the Board remanded the appeal for further development.

Service connection for hypertension, to include as due to idiopathic vasovagal syncope, is remanded.

The Veteran contends that she has hypertension that is due to her period of service, or, in the alternative, due to service-connected idiopathic vasovagal syncope.

In a June 2020 Board decision, the Board determined the September 2013 VA examination finding no diagnosis of hypertension to be inadequate due to lack of consideration of the Veteran's VA treatment records which indicate spikes and drops in blood pressure.  The Board then directed that the Veteran be afforded another VA examination.  The record indicates that the Veteran did not attend the VA examination scheduled in August 2020.  In a November 2020 statement, the Veteran's representative informed the Board that the Veteran was pregnant and could not attend the scheduled examination.  The representative noted that the Veteran would give birth in January 2021.  

The Board finds that the Veteran has shown good cause for not attending her examination.  Accordingly, a remand is necessary to afford the Veteran a VA examination.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

Schedule the Veteran with an appropriate VA examiner to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed hypertension.  The examiner should receive a copy of this remand and review the Veteran's file.  Based on review of the record and examination, the examiner should address the following: 

Determine whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has hypertension that is due to, manifested in or related to the Veteran's period of service.  The examiner should also determine whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has hypertension that is due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected idiopathic vasovagal syncope.  In making this determination, the examiner is asked to consider and discuss the Veteran's VA treatment records noting spikes and drops in blood pressure.

 

 

JENNIFER HWA

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	C. Ford

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.