Citation Nr: 19123789
Decision Date: 04/02/19	Archive Date: 03/29/19

DOCKET NO. 14-39 948
DATE:	April 2, 2019

REMANDED

Entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from June 1973 to August 1975.

Entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for residuals of a TBI is remanded.

The Veteran seeks a compensable evaluation for residuals of his disability. The claim was previously remanded because it was intertwined with his now service-connected major depressive disorder.  The Veteran was last afforded a VA examination concerning this issue in February 2016.  A review of his VA treatment records includes a January 2019 VA examination report which noted that TBI testing was completed recently and the results were pending.  A review of the remainder of the VA treatment records in the claims folder does not show that any such test results were added to the Veteran’s claims folder.  As such, remand is needed to retrieve these TBI test results.  If they are unavailable, the Veteran should be afforded a new VA examination to obtain updated findings on the severity of his disability.

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain the TBI test results referenced in the January 2019 VA mental disorders examination report, as well as any other outstanding VA treatment records dated since February 2019.

2. If the TBI test results referenced in the January 2019 VA mental disorders examination report are not available, the Veteran should be afforded a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected residuals of a TBI.

 

M. E. Larkin

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Jack S. Komperda, Counsel