Citation Nr: 18143928
Decision Date: 10/22/18	Archive Date: 10/22/18

DOCKET NO. 15-13 826
DATE:	October 22, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder is remanded.
Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disability is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from March 1969 to February 1971.
The Veteran has appealed a separate claim for service connection for hepatitis C to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.  However, the Veteran requested a hearing for that claim and it has yet to be provided.  Therefore, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C is not addressed below.
1. Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder is remanded.
A review of the record reveals remand is warranted to obtain additional records and examination.
The Veteran was last provided a VA posttraumatic stress disorder examination in January 2015.  Since that time, the Veteran has alleged new symptoms and worsening of his disability.  See March 2015 letter from Veteran (new symptoms alleged) and September 2016 letter from Veteran (worsening alleged).  
Additionally, the record appears to be incomplete with regard to VA records and records from the Social Security Administration (SSA).  The most recent treatment notes of record, from VA, are from August 2016.  During his January 2015 VA examination, the Veteran reported he was still receiving SSA disability payments.
In light of the above, the record appears incomplete.  
Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disability (TDIU) is remanded.
Any determinations with respect to an increased rating would materially affect a determination concerning entitlement to TDIU.  As such, it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim being remanded, and must therefore be remanded as well.
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1.  Obtain outstanding VA records of evaluation and/or treatment since August 2016.
2.   Contact the Social Security Administration and request all pertinent documentation pertaining to any claim for disability benefits by the Veteran, including any Cessation or Continuance of Disability or Blindness Determination and Transmittal and medical records that SSA has regarding the Veteran, since February 2012.  Non-duplicative records should be associated with the claim file.  All efforts to obtain the records should be associated with the claim file.
3.  Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.  The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria.    
 
H. N. SCHWARTZ
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Gregory T. Shannon, Associate Counsel