Citation Nr: 18157754
Decision Date: 12/13/18	Archive Date: 12/13/18

DOCKET NO. 16-50 033
DATE:	December 13, 2018
REMANDED
The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had a period of active duty service from April 1991 to August 1996.
Entitlement to TDIU
During the course of the appeal the Veteran asserted that his service connected disabilities render him unemployable and that he is therefore entitled to TDIU.  See Rice v. Shinseki, 22 Vet. App. 447, 453 (2009).  He has highlighted his psychiatric impairment as a precluding his ability to work.  New VA examinations are necessary to make a determination on whether the Veteran’s service connected disorders have increased in severity rendering him Veteran unemployable.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Contact the Veteran to identify any pertinent private or VA treatment records that might be outstanding and associate them with the claims file including VA or private treatment records, and employment health examinations, and specifically include records of any complaints, diagnosis, or treatments for his service connected disabilities as it relates to his claim for TDIU.  Specifically, records of any ongoing psychiatric treatment should be obtained.
2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examinations pertaining to all of his service connected disabilities to assist in determining their current severity.  The examiners must be given access to all records contained in Virtual VA and VBMS, and a notation must be made that review of all records has been accomplished.  After a thorough review of the Veteran’s medical records, the examiners are requested to prepare complete reports on all functional impairments caused by the Veteran’s service connected disabilities and the effect on his ability to work or be employed. The examiners should identify all limitations or functional impairments.
 
3. The AOJ must ensure that the examiner’s report complies with this remand and answers the questions presented in the request.  The AOJ must also ensure that the examiner documents consideration of the electronic claims file.
 
MICHAEL D. LYON
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	M. Elliot Harris, Associate Counsel