Citation Nr: 21021719 Decision Date: 04/13/21 Archive Date: 04/13/21 DOCKET NO. 14-29 207A DATE: April 13, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 1984 to December 2006. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal of a May 2013 rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In November 2020, the Board remanded the issue of TDIU for further development. As the actions specified in the prior remand have been substantially completed, the matter has been properly returned to the Board for appellate consideration. See Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268 (1998); D’Aries v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 97, 105 (2008). 1. Entitlement to a TDIU. In a December 2017 VA mental health consultation record the Veteran reported that she was retired, and that part of her current income was Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits. An SSA inquiry result associated with the file in September 2018 reflects that the Veteran was receiving SSA benefits under Tile II, which governs disability payments. As such, the record shows that the Veteran currently receives SSA disability benefits. However, there are no SSA records associated with the file, nor is there evidence that attempts have been made to obtain the records. If still in existence, these records would be relevant to the Veteran’s claim for TDIU currently on appeal. Golz v. Shinseki, 590 F.3d 1317 (Fed. Cir. 2010). As such, the claim must be remanded so that attempts can be made to obtain any existing records. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Request from the SSA complete copies of any determination on a claim for disability benefits, to include all medical records underlying SSA determinations. If the search for these records is negative, the Veteran must be informed in writing in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e). CHRISTOPHER A. WENDELL Acting Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board C. Gates, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.