Citation Nr: 21073704 Decision Date: 12/10/21 Archive Date: 12/10/21 DOCKET NO. 16-32 947 DATE: December 10, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior to October 4, 2016 is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from October 1966 to October 1969. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a December 2013 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) located in South Nashville, Tennessee. This appeal was remanded by the Board in October 2018, July 2020, and May 2021 for additional development and has since returned to the Board, for appellate review. In the May 2021 decision, the Board granted a TDIU, effective October 4, 2016. The issue of a TDIU prior to October 4, 2016, was remanded. The record reflects that the Veteran was working as a dental technician in a dental laboratory through at least as recent as March 20, 2013, when he completed the VA Form 21-8940, Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability, that was received on March 22, 2013. It is not clear, however, when he stopped working (if ever) or what his earnings have been since then. In March 2016, the RO asked the Veteran to complete and return another VA Form 21-8940, Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability, and to provide VA with copies of his W2s for 2013, 2014, and 2015, since only his W2s for 2007-2012 are currently of record. The Veteran did not complete and return the form or send in the W2s, as requested. The duty to assist is a two-way street. If a veteran wishes help, he cannot passively wait for it in those circumstances where he may or should have information that is essential in obtaining the putative evidence. Wood v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 190 (1991). As the Veteran was asked only once for the updated VA Form 21-8940 and W2s, the Board finds it reasonable to remand this claim so the Veteran can be asked, once again, for pertinent information regarding his work history and earnings from 2013 to 2016. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Ask the Veteran to report his employment history (to include starting and ending dates of each job, job titles, and amount of earnings (including self-employment)) for the period from March 2013 to 2016. The Veteran should be informed that it is his responsibility to cooperate in the development of this claim. 2. Ask the Veteran to (a) complete and return another VA Form 21-8940, Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability, and (b) provide copies of pertinent W2s and/or an earnings statement from the Social Security Administration for each year from 2013 through 2016. 3. Send a VA Form 21-4192, Request for Employment Information in Connection with Claim for Disability Benefits, to Harmony Dental Lab (the employer noted on the VA Form 21-4192 that is currently in the claims file) and ask that they complete and return the form. 4. Complete any other appropriate development in order to verify the Veteran's earnings for each year from 2013 to 2016. A. J. Spector Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board C. Banks, 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.