Citation Nr: 21042367 Decision Date: 07/12/21 Archive Date: 07/12/21 DOCKET NO. 15-07 558 DATE: July 12, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent prior to December 13, 2019, for service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with persistent major depressive disorder is remanded. Entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from October 1959 to October 1963. These matters come before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2012 rating decision. The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in April 2018 via a videoconference hearing; a transcript is of record. The Board previously remanded these matters in June 2018 and November 2019. The Board notes an Appeals Satisfaction Notice was received in December 2020; however, VA also received an SSOC Notice Response in December 2020 from the Veteran. As a result, VA mailed a letter to the Veteran in April 2021 asking for clarification on whether he intended to withdraw his appeal and informed him if no response was received from him within 30 days from the date of the letter, the Board would proceed to review all issues on appeal. Neither the Veteran nor his representative replied to the Board's letter within 30 days. As such, the Board will proceed to review all issues on appeal. REASONS FOR REMAND Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent prior to December 13, 2019, for service-connected PTSD with persistent major depressive disorder is remanded. Entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded. Regarding the claim for a higher rating for PTSD, there is an indication there are missing VA treatment records. A January 2012 VA examination notes the Veteran has been seen at the Bedford VAMC since March 2006, and he has been in a PTSD group since 2009. A December 2015 letter from a VA psychologist of the Bedford VAMC notes the Veteran has been in PTSD treatment with the Bedford VA since October 2008. However, a review of the record does not show any VA treatment records from October 2008. Furthermore, the record appears incomplete for the treatment period of January 2008 to February 2012 from the Bedford VAMC. As a result, a remand is needed to attempt to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records from the Bedford VAMC and the Boston VAMC. As to the Veteran's TDIU claim, the Board finds that this claim is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim on appeal. Therefore, a final decision on the issue of entitlement to TDIU cannot be rendered at this time. See Harris v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 180 (1991) (two issues are "inextricably intertwined" when they are so closely tied together that a final decision on one issue cannot be rendered until a decision on the other issue has been rendered). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Obtain the Veteran's complete VA treatment records for the period from January 2008 to February 2012 from the Bedford VAMC; and any records dated from 2006 forward from the Boston VA Healthcare System. The RO should document all attempts to obtain these records. P. M. DILORENZO Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Buck Denton 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.