Citation Nr: 21003979 Decision Date: 01/25/21 Archive Date: 01/25/21 DOCKET NO. 19-37 465 DATE: January 25, 2021 REMANDED A rating in excess of 10 percent for cerebral subdural hematoma after December 1, 2018 is remanded. Entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound after December 1, 2018 is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Navy from September 1963 to December 1967. In November 2020, the Veteran testified at a hearing held before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. Cerebral subdural hematoma The Veteran reported at his November 2020 BVA hearing that his cerebral subdural hematoma condition warrants an increase rating because the condition has worsened since the last VA examination on November 2018. The Veteran reports suffering from bowel, memory and concentration problems. Additionally, the Veteran’s representative reported that his cerebral condition should be considered under diagnostic code (DC) 8045 for traumatic brain injury (TBI). As such, the Veteran must be afforded another VA examination. See Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400, 403 (1997; see also VAOPGCPREC 11-95 (April 7, 1995). Therefore, the Board finds that a medical evaluation is necessary to determine the Veteran’s current severity and impact of his cerebral hematoma condition. In addition, the Board finds that the Veteran’s SMC claim after December 1, 2018 is inextricably intertwined with the remanded issues. See Harris v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 181 (1991) (two or more issues are inextricably intertwined if one claim could have significant impact on the other). Thus, this issue must be remanded. As there is no recent examination to determine the current severity of his cerebral condition and if it meets the criteria under DC 8045, a remand is necessary to have the Veteran examined and for an examiner to review his claims folder and provide opinions necessary to adjudicate this appeal. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain complete VA and Non-VA medical treatment records of the Veteran’s cerebral hematoma condition. 2. Notify the Veteran that he may submit additional lay statements from himself and from other individuals who have first-hand knowledge, and/or were contemporaneously informed of his condition, extent, impact and severity of his cerebral hematoma disability. The Veteran should be provided an appropriate amount of time to submit this lay evidence. 3. Schedule a VA examination (or telehealth interview, review of the record, etc. if an in-person examination is not feasible) to determine the manifestations, impact and severity of his cerebral hematoma condition. The examiner should provide a full description of his cerebral hematoma and report all signs and symptoms, to include any manifestations of TBI under Diagnostic Code 8045, to specifically include any bowel, memory and concentration impairment. Additionally, the examiner must comment on whether, and to what extent, he needs the assistance of another person in performing the activities of daily living. STEVEN D. REISS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board M. Alvarado- 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.