Citation Nr: 21010800 Decision Date: 02/25/21 Archive Date: 02/25/21 DOCKET NO. 10-30 838 DATE: February 25, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active duty service from October 1973 to April 1976. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a January 2010 rating decision from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran’s TDIU claim originated during his appeal for an increased evaluation for his right knee disorder. In a March 2017 decision, the Board found that TDIU had been reasonably raised by the record and remanded the TDIU claim for adjudication. The Board then denied the Veteran’s TDIU claim in a December 2017 decision. That decision also denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion and granted 10 percent evaluations for both right knee limitation of extension and right knee instability. The Veteran then appealed that decision to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (the Court). In June 2018, the Court granted the parties’ Joint Motion for Remand (Joint Motion) and vacated the Board’s December 2017 decision. The Board then remanded the claims for additional development in March 2019. In an August 2020 decision, the Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran’s right knee limitation of extension and denied claims for increased evaluations for right knee strain (flexion) and right knee instability. The Veteran did not appeal this decision, and as such, the Veteran’s right knee disorder claims are no longer before the Board. However, in that August 2020 decision, the Board also remanded the Veteran’s TDIU claim for additional development. That claim has returned to the Board for appellate review. The Board notes that its August 2020 remand directives included a request that the AOJ obtain a VA examination in order to ascertain the combined effects and impairment resulting from the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities. While the Veteran was afforded VA examinations to evaluate each of his service-connected disorders separately, an assessment to ascertain the combined effects and impairment resulting from his service-connected disabilities has still not been performed. As such, an additional VA examination is required. See Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268 (1998). Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action: 1. The AOJ should schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to ascertain the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities and any resulting impairment. If this examination cannot be conducted, the reasons should be provided. The examiner should address how the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities result in functional impairment and comment on the Veteran’s ability to function in an occupational environment. If possible, he or she should also indicate if there is any form of employment that the Veteran could perform, and if so, what type. A written copy of the report should be associated with the electronic claims folder. 2. After completing these actions, the AOJ should conduct any other development as may be indicated by a response received as a consequence of the actions taken in the preceding paragraphs. Nathaniel Doan Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board B. Rideout-Davidson, 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.