Citation Nr: 18156034
Decision Date: 12/06/18	Archive Date: 12/06/18

DOCKET NO. 17-45 538
DATE:	December 6, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an increased rating disability for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in excess of 70 percent from November 29, 2014 to November 30, 2014, from February 1, 2015 to July 16, 2015, from September 1, 2015 to November 1, 2015, and from January 1, 2016 is remanded.
Entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound is remanded.
Entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active service from December 1973 to January 1984, from June 2006 to January 2008, and from March 2008 to July 2009.  
1. Entitlement to an increased rating disability for posttraumatic stress disorder is remanded.
The Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent evaluation for PTSD from November 29, 2014, at 100 percent from December 1, 2014, at 70 percent from February 1, 2015, at 70 percent from September 1, 2015, at 100 percent from November 2, 2015 and 70 percent from January 1, 2016.  The Veteran submitted a claim for increased rating for PTSD in March 2015 after a proposed reduction for PTSD by VA notification letter dated November 14, 2014.  
The Veteran’s available medical records indicate a pattern of cyclical PTSD symptoms resulting in three documented inpatient stays.  However, the medical treatment records in the claims file are not complete after May 2016, and there appear to be missing inpatient treatment records for November 2015, if not since 2016.  The RO should request records since May 2016 and any additional inpatient reports from November 2015, as well as any private treatment records or inpatient records since May 2016.  
2. Entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound is remanded.
The available medical treatment records document that the Veteran now has a fiduciary for his VA payments as well as his Social Security payments.  However, the records are not available since May 2016 and the prior records indicate that the assignment of a fiduciary may have been more of a convenience than a medical necessity.  The RO should request the more recent VA treatment and private treatment records since May 2016 to allow the Board to make a more fully informed decision as to the determination on special monthly compensation for aid and attendance.  
3. Entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.
As noted above, the medical treatment records in the Veteran’s file are incomplete for recent dates and for some earlier private treatment records.  Finally, because a decision on the remanded issues of PTSD and aid and attendance could significantly impact a decision on the issue of TDIU, the issues are inextricably intertwined.  A remand of the claim for TDIU is required.
 
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records for the period from May 2016 to the present.  
2. Determine if there are any outstanding private medical records since May 2016, with special emphasis on inpatient medical reports (separate from the discharge report already in the file) from Emerald Coast treatment facility for the Veteran’s inpatient stay in November 2015, and obtain them.  

 
DAVID L. WIGHT
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	E. Miller, Associate Counsel