Citation Nr: 21014451
Decision Date: 03/12/21	Archive Date: 03/12/21

DOCKET NO. 14-25 336A
DATE: March 12, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for a bladder disability, to include a hyperactive bladder and urinary incontinence, is remanded.  

Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.  

Entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include major depressive disorder, is remanded.  

REASONS FOR REMAND

Entitlement to service connection for a bladder disability, erectile dysfunction, and a psychiatric disability is remanded.  

The report of a July 2020 psychiatric examination conducted for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states that the Veteran reported receiving Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits.  

Documentation of the Veteran’s SSA award of disability benefits, if any, and the evidence considered by the SSA in granting or denying the Veteran’s claim is not of record.  VA’s duty to assist the Veteran includes an obligation to obtain the records from the SSA.  Masors v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 181 (1992).  

Clinical documentation dated after August 2020 is not of record.  VA should obtain all relevant VA and private treatment records which could potentially be helpful in resolving the Veteran’s claims.  Murphy v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 78 (1990); Bell v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 611 (1992).  

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for each private healthcare provider who has treated him for any bladder, erectile dysfunction, and psychiatric disabilities.  Make two requests for the authorized records from all identified healthcare providers unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile.  

2. Obtain the Veteran’s VA clinical documentation not already of record, including treatment records dated since August 2020.  

3. Contact the SSA and request documentation of the Veteran’s award of disability benefits or the denial of that claim and copies of all records developed in association with the decision.  

 

 

Harvey P. Roberts

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	J. T. Hutcheson, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.