Citation Nr: 18100993 Decision Date: 04/25/18 Archive Date: 04/25/18 DOCKET NO. 16-09 979 DATE: April 25, 2018 ISSUES DECIDED: 0 ISSUES REMANDED: 2 REMANDED ISSUE The issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded for additional development. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been raised by the record and is remanded for additional development. The Veteran had active service from March 1964 to February 1968. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2014 rating decision which granted service connection and an initial 50 percent rating for PTSD. In December 2016, the Veteran submitted a disability benefit questionnaire (DBQ) from his private provider, Dr. E.H. In the questionnaire, Dr. E.H. stated that he reviewed “my own” records in conjunction with completing the examination. The Board observes that records from Dr. E.H. have not been obtained since January 2014. Since it appears that the Veteran has had treatment with Dr. E.H. since January 2014, a remand is necessary to obtain updated treatment records. Additionally, in light of the symptoms documented in the December 2016 DBQ, it appears that the Veteran’s PTSD symptoms have increased in severity since his last VA examination, which was conducted in May 2014. Accordingly, the Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of his PTSD. Regarding TDIU, the Board notes that a TDIU claim is part and parcel of an increased rating claim when such claim is raised by the record. Rice v. Shinseki, 22 Vet. App. 447 (2009). In this case, the matter of unemployability due to the Veteran’s service-connected PTSD was raised in the December 2016 DBQ. Therefore, the issue is raised by the record and is properly before the Board. On remand, the Veteran should be provided an appropriate notice letter and asked to complete a VA Form 21-8940, Veteran’s Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability. The matter is REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Send the Veteran a notice letter advising him about what is needed to substantiate a claim for a TDIU and request that he complete a VA Form 21-8940, Veteran’s Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability, to obtain relevant employment information and to authorize VA to contact his former employer(s) for additional information regarding his employment. 2. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for Dr. E.H. and attempt to obtain treatment records dated since January 2014. Make two requests for the authorized records unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile. Notify the Veteran that he may obtain and submit records on his behalf. 3. After any additional records are associated with the claims file, schedule the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the severity of his service-connected PTSD. The examiner must be provided access to the electronic claims file and he or she must indicate review of the claims file in the examination report. Any studies, tests, and evaluations deemed necessary by the examiner should be performed. The examiner is requested to comment on the severity of the Veteran’s service-connected PTSD and identify any symptoms and functional impairments due to PTSD alone and discuss the effect of the Veteran’s PTSD on any occupational functioning and activities of daily living. 4. Conduct any additional development necessary. 5. Then, readjudicate the Veteran’s claims for an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to a TDIU. If the benefits sought on appeal remain denied, the Veteran and his representative should be provided a supplemental statement of the case. Allow an appropriate period of time for response. Lana K. Jeng Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD A. G. Alderman, Counsel