Citation Nr: 21014876 Decision Date: 03/16/21 Archive Date: 03/16/21 DOCKET NO. 15-17 920 DATE: March 16, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, claimed as the result of herbicide agent exposure, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, claimed as the result of herbicide agent exposure, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, claimed as the result of herbicide agent exposure, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, claimed as the result of herbicide agent exposure, is remanded. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 6, 2017; in excess of 30 percent from December 6, 2017, to March 5, 2019; and in excess of 50 percent as of March 6, 2019, for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from April 1966 to April 1968. He served in the Republic of Vietnam. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and increased ratings for PTSD is remanded. An August 2020 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) treatment record states that the Veteran was in receipt of Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits. An October 2020 SSA report indicates that the Veteran received SSA disability benefits. The evidence considered by the SSA in granting 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). A July 2020 VA treatment record states that the Veteran received ongoing treatment from Kaiser Permanente. Clinical documentation from Kaiser Permanente dated after April 2018 is not of record. VA clinical documentation dated after September 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, including Kaiser Permanente, who has treated him for any upper and lower extremity neurological disabilities and PTSD. 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 September 2020. 3. Contact the SSA and request copies of all records developed in association with the Veteran’s award of disability benefits. 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.