Citation Nr: 18115757
Decision Date: 07/03/18	Archive Date: 07/03/18

DOCKET NO. 12-32 344
DATE:	July 3, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from December 1967 to November 1971.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).  The Board remanded this case in March 2017.
In its March 2017 remand, the Board found that the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) had been raised, and remanded this issue for further development and adjudication by the RO.  An October 2017 rating decision denied a TDIU.  In October 2017 correspondence, the Veteran stated that he did not dispute this decision.  Accordingly, this issue is not on appeal before the Board. 
1. Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
The Veteran should be provided another opportunity to appear for a VA examination.  He did not appear for an examination scheduled in July 2017.  In an October 2017 statement, he wrote that he was unfamiliar with the company with whom VA had contracted to perform the examination, and was unsure whether it was in fact a legitimate company that had a contract with VA.  He stated that a representative from the company asked for his personal information, which he was uncomfortable giving.  After unsuccessful efforts to confirm whether the company was indeed legitimate, he canceled the examination.  He stated that he is willing to report for an examination to any company that VA identifies as a legitimate company that has a contract with VA to perform the examination.  
The Board finds that the Veteran has presented good cause for cancelling the examination.  Accordingly, he should be provided another opportunity to be examined. 
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain the Veteran’s updated VA treatment records.
2.  Arrange for the Veteran to undergo an audiological examination to assess the current level of severity of his bilateral hearing loss.  If the examination is to be performed by a private company with whom VA has contracted, he should be informed of this fact. 
 
P.M. DILORENZO
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J. Rutkin, Counsel