Citation Nr: 18149269
Decision Date: 11/09/18	Archive Date: 11/09/18

DOCKET NO. 14-07 546
DATE:	November 9, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from January 1988 through June 1991.
The Board remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss in December 2017 for further development.  The Veteran was scheduled for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any right ear hearing loss in March 2018; however, he failed to report for that examination.  The Veteran’s representative argued in the October 2018 appellate brief that the Veteran failed to attend his scheduled examination because he was not notified as to the date, time, and location of his examination.
The claims file contains a “VA Examination Letter” that states the VA facility nearest the Veteran had been asked to perform a disability evaluation, and the Veteran would be notified of the date, time, and place of his examination.  However, the claims file does not contain the notice letter that was presumably sent to the Veteran notifying him that an examination had been scheduled and informing him of the time, date, and place.  He did, however, report for a separate examination for another condition that was scheduled just a few days after the hearing loss exam.  The fact he reported for that examination shortly thereafter at least supports the allegation he may not have received proper notice of the scheduled hearing loss exam.  
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
Reschedule the Veteran for the hearing examination, as noted in the Board’s December 2017 remand.  The directions noted in the Board’s remand in December 2017 should be specifically followed; and a copy of the notice for any additional VA examination should be associated with the claims file if the Veteran fails to report.
 
MICHELLE L. KANE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	A. Parsons, Associate Counsel