Citation Nr: 21010685 Decision Date: 02/25/21 Archive Date: 02/25/21 DOCKET NO. 17-47 988 DATE: February 25, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 12, 2018 is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from December 1980 to November 1983 and from November 1983 to May 1987. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal of the October 2016 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In December 2020, the Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of the hearing is associated with the record. Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded. The Veteran seeks a TDIU prior to September 12, 2018 for his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran testified at the December 2020 Board hearing that he has been in receipt of Social Security benefits since 2016. The Veteran testified that he stopped working because of his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Veteran’s counsel provided a notice of Social Security disability award, that indicated that the Veteran became disabled under their rules on March 31, 2016. There is also a record of “SSA inquiry results,” but there are no other Social Security disability records. There is no indication that VA has made efforts to obtain the Veteran’s relevant Social Security Administration records. On remand, efforts must be made to obtain those records. See 38 C.F.R.§ 3.159(c)(2); Golz v. Shinseki, 590 F.3d 1317 (Fed. Cir. 2010). The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Make appropriate efforts to obtain from the Social Security Administration the complete set of records associated with the Veteran's claim for disability benefits. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(2). Any negative response must be included in the record, and the Veteran must be notified of such inability and informed that he may submit any records he may have in his possession. MICHAEL MARTIN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board M. Quist, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.