Citation Nr: 21066124
Decision Date: 10/28/21	Archive Date: 10/28/21

DOCKET NO. 17-50 117A
DATE: October 28, 2021

REMANDED

A nonservice-connected pension.

 

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from December 1986 to January 1991.

The case is on appeal from a June 2016 rating decision.

In November 2019, the Board remanded the claim for additional development.

A nonservice-connected pension.

The Veteran is seeking a nonservice-connected pension.  In March 2016, he filed a claim for a pension, but did not report any income for himself or his spouse.  

In the June 2016 rating decision, the RO denied the claim because the Veteran is not unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

Thereafter, in November 2017, the Veteran submitted a statement from a VA supervisory psychiatrist.  The psychiatrist found that the Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment due to bipolar disorder and side effects of medication.  The psychiatrist explained that the Veteran experiences agoraphobia, inability to deal with others in a work environment, memory difficulties, irritability, and low mood with crying spells.

In January 2019, the Veteran explained that he takes care of an adult dependent daughter.  In July 2019, he submitted Social Security Administration (SSA) information showing that he receives monthly income for her support.

In a November 2019 decision, the Board remanded this claim to afford the Veteran another opportunity to submit complete income and medical expense reports for the period on appeal.  

In a December 2019 rating decision, the RO granted including the Veteran's daughter as a dependent for VA benefit purposes.

In February 2020, the RO furnished the Veteran appropriate forms and requested that he submit complete income and medical expense reports for the period on appeal.  However, the Veteran did not respond to this request.

The Board finds that the evidence of record is sufficient to conclude that the Veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to the nonservice-connected bipolar disorder.  However, the Veteran has yet to submit an income statement reporting any income for himself, his wife, or dependent daughter.  On remand, he should be afforded another opportunity to submit complete income and medical expense reports for the entire appeal period.  In addition, the RO should obtain verification of the Veteran's, his wife's, and his dependent daughter's SSA benefits for the entire appeal period.

This claim is REMANDED for the following actions:

1. Furnish the appellant an Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report and a Medical Expense Report and request that she complete and return the forms with information from 2016 to the present.

2. Obtain verification from the SSA addressing the Veteran's, his wife's, and his dependent daughter's benefits from 2016 to the present.

 

 

RYAN T. KESSEL

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Jimerfield, David

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.