Citation Nr: 21032204
Decision Date: 05/26/21	Archive Date: 05/26/21

DOCKET NO. 16-37 895
DATE: May 26, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to an initial rating greater than 30 percent for coronary artery disease is remanded.

Entitlement to an increased rating greater than 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded.

Entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss greater than 10 percent prior to September 27, 2018, greater than 40 percent from September 27, 2018 to September 11, 2019, and greater than 20 percent from September 12, 2019 is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from March 1965 to March 1969.

Review of the record reflects that the Veteran may be in receipt of disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA).  During his January 2014 VA PTSD examination, the Veteran reported that he worked as a self-employed carpenter until about 2010, and that he "got social security" after then, only working when there were jobs available.  Although it is unclear whether the Veteran is in receipt of SSA disability benefits for his service-connected coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, or PTSD, if so, those records are relevant to determining the appropriate disability ratings for his claims herein.  VA has a duty to obtain potentially relevant SSA records.  Golz v. Shinseki, 590 F.3d 1317 (Fed. Cir. 2010).  Accordingly, the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) must determine whether the Veteran receives SSA disability benefits for his service-connected disabilities, and if so, obtain all available SSA records.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

The AOJ must contact the SSA and request a copy of the Veteran's complete SSA disability benefits file, including any administrative decision(s) on the Veteran's application for SSA disability benefits and all of the associated medical records relating to his award of SSA disability benefits.  A copy of any response(s) from SSA, to include (if applicable) a negative reply, must be included in the claims file.  All records provided by SSA also must be included in the claims file.

 

 

ANTHONY C. SCIRÉ, JR

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.