Citation Nr: 21042757
Decision Date: 07/13/21	Archive Date: 07/13/21

DOCKET NO. 17-18 906
DATE: July 13, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from September 1968 to September 1970. 

This matter is on appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a rating decision by the VA Regional Office (RO).

A hearing was held by the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in April 2021; a transcript is in the claims file.

Having carefully reviewed the record, the Board finds that remand is necessary to decide the claim of TDIU.  

The Veteran is service connected for coronary artery disease, evaluated as 60 percent disabling; posttraumatic stress disorder, evaluated as 50 percent disabling; tinnitus, evaluated as 10 percent disabling; and bilateral hearing loss, evaluated as non-compensable.   The combined disability rating is 80 percent.  At his hearing the Veteran indicated it was a combination of the impairment caused by his PTSD and coronary artery disease that precludes employment.  

During the course of the hearing, the Veteran indicated that he had been seeing his Vet Center counselor on a monthly basis prior to the pandemic, and an April 2021 letter from the Vet Center reflects the Veteran has attended his scheduled appointments.  However, the most recent Vet Center counseling record associated with the file is dated in 2016.  Accordingly, it does not appear all the relevant records of treatment have been considered.  The outstanding records of treatment should be sought. 

It also does not appear the Veteran has been evaluated for VA purposes in connection with his heart disability or his PTSD since 2016.  Given his ongoing treatment with the Vet Center, a more current evaluation of these disabilities  should be obtained.  

Under these circumstances, the matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. A copy of the records of the Veteran's treatment at the Green Bay Vet Center dated since 2016 should be associated with the claims file, together with any outstanding record of relevant VA treatment. 

2. The Veteran should be scheduled for VA examinations of his service-connected coronary artery disease, and PTSD to address the functional impacts of these disorders for the purpose of evaluating entitlement to TDIU. The claims file should be reviewed, and a complete examination should be conducted.

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3. After ensuring any other necessary development has been completed, the RO should readjudicate the claim.

 

 

M. KILCOYNE

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Dodd, Ryan

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.