So I figured out my issue. The Private Internet Access app changes the etc/resolv.conf file to use their servers. I think there must have been an untidy shutdown leaving the etc/resolv.conf file as a file and not a symbolic link. Not knowing etc/resolv.conf should be a symbolic link, I went on maintaining my DNS by modifying etc/resolv.conf until I learned about resolv.conf being a symbolic link.
By entering:
$ cd /etc
$ rm resolv.conf
$ sudo ln -s /run/resolvconf/resolv.conf
I was back as originally configured and able to manage my DNS through the network manger. PIA works just fine via both their app and OPENVPN.