Citation Nr: 21069766 Decision Date: 11/19/21 Archive Date: 11/19/21 DOCKET NO. 19-00 719 DATE: November 19, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from July 1983 to July 1986 and March 1995 to September 2011. The Veteran provided testimony before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in November 2021. The Board finds additional development is needed to clarify the Veteran's employment history, specifically at what point employment stopped being substantially gainful. The Veteran has reported working as a dog walker and pet sitter since leaving her position with the state in August 2016 but has not provided any information regarding the income associated with this self-employment. Additionally, regarding the reported final employment with the state, a July 2017 VA treatment record reveals the history that the position was part-time but the September 2018 VA form 21-8940 of record reports that it was full-time the entire period she worked. The Veteran is asked to submit a current VA form 8940 with information about all employment, including at which point (if any) her employment with the state went part-time. The record does not include a VA form 21-4192 from the Veteran's last employer. In light of the need for a remand, the Board finds the last employer should again be contacted, include contacting the person who responded in October 2018 if appropriate. Finally, the Board finds the record would benefit if up-to-date information were obtained concerning the current impairment associated with the service-connected disabilities. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Contact the Veteran and request that she complete and return an Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability, VA Form 21-8940, detailing all employment, including part-time employment. 2. Notify the Veteran that she may submit lay statements from herself and from other individuals who have first-hand knowledge, and/or were contemporaneously informed of the impact of the service-connected disabilities on her ability to work. The Veteran should be provided an appropriate amount of time to submit this lay evidence. 3. Undertake development to obtain employment information from the Veteran's state employer, including by contacting the person who responded in October 2018 if appropriate. 4. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate VA medical professional to determine the nature and severity of all service connected disabilities. Obtain opinions, one pertaining to the Veteran's mental health disability and another pertaining to the Veteran's physical disabilities, to determine the combined functional and occupational impairment caused by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claims file must be made available to the examiners for review and the examiners should note a review of such in the examination report. (a) Provide a full description of the functional impairments, to include all associated limitations, caused by each of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. (b) Then, ascertain the occupational impairment caused by the combination of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. (c) If it is determined that the Veteran's ability to perform certain occupational tasks is impaired, it should be noted to what degree. If it is not possible for the examiner to provide the requested opinion, the examiner should clearly state why that is so. A complete rationale must be provided for any opinion expressed. A complete rationale is one with clear conclusions and supporting data, as well as a reasoned medical explanation connecting the two. T. REYNOLDS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board N. Snyder, 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.