Citation Nr: 20023090 Decision Date: 04/03/20 Archive Date: 04/03/20 DOCKET NO. 15-18 298 DATE: April 3, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded. Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from December 2004 to March 2006. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2011 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In November 2018, the Veteran and his spouse testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of the hearing is associated with the record. At such time, the Veteran waived Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) consideration of the evidence associated with the record after the issuance of the May 2015 statement of the case. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1304(c). 1. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The Veteran was most recently afforded a VA examination in February 2017 addressing the nature and severity of his PTSD. However, the Board finds that, as he and his spouse testified to additional and increased psychiatric symptomatology at the November 2018 Board hearing, a remand is necessary in order to afford him a contemporaneous VA examination. In this regard, the Veteran reported that he enrolled at his local community college, but had to drop out as he was unable to focus and concentrate on his work, and was unable to be around a lot of people in the classroom due to his anxiety. He also indicated that he underwent electroshock therapy, which worked at first but eventually did not help, in 2015, attempted suicide in 2016, and last drove over 4 years ago due a lack of focus as a result of his anxiety and hallucinations. Furthermore, the Veteran reported that he experienced daily panic attacks, nightmares, and hallucinations. He also noted that he had lost interest in all of his hobbies, was unable to watch television or read a book, and had limited social contacts in that he saw one friend every now and again, but otherwise only saw his spouse, and did not socialize with his son. In addition to the foregoing, the Veteran’s spouse indicated that she had to make him take a shower and put fresh clothes on; otherwise, he could go three to four weeks without washing. She also reported that the Veteran would stay in bed all day if she did not make him get up, and he experienced memory loss; did not interact with people who came to visit, to include his son; sometimes had illogical judgment/thinking; and would be unable to go back to work. Therefore, as the evidence suggests that the Veteran’s PTSD symptomatology may have increased in severity since the February 2017 VA examination, a remand is necessary in order to schedule him for an appropriate VA examination in order to assess the current nature and severity of such service-connected disability. See Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997); Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 377 (1994); VAOPGCPREC 11-95 (1995). 2. Entitlement to a TDIU. The Veteran’s claim for entitlement to a TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the claim for an increased rating for his PTSD that is remanded herein. See Tyrues v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 166, 177 (2009) (en banc) (explaining that claims are inextricably intertwined where the adjudication of one claim could have a significant impact on the adjudication of another claim). As such, consideration of the Veteran’s TDIU claim must be deferred pending the outcome of his increased rating claim. Harris v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 180, 183 (1991) (where a claim is inextricably intertwined with another claim, the claims must be adjudicated together in order to enter a final decision on the matter). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Afford the Veteran an appropriate VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected PTSD. The record, to include a copy of this Remand, should be made available to the examiner, and all indicated tests should be conducted. The examiner should identify the nature and severity of all current manifestations of the Veteran’s service-connected PTSD. He or she should also specifically address the impact such disorder has on the Veteran’s social and occupational functioning. A rationale for any opinion offered should be provided. A. JAEGER Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Koria B. Stanton, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.