Citation Nr: 18132829
Decision Date: 09/07/18	Archive Date: 09/07/18

DOCKET NO. 14-41 637
DATE:	September 7, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected right radius fracture residuals is remanded.
 
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from May 1972 to March 1975.
The Veteran was scheduled for Board of Veterans Appeals’ (Board) hearings in November 2017, December 2017, and January 2018; he failed to appear.  Accordingly, appellate review will proceed without a hearing.  38 C.F.R. § 20.704(d).  
In May 2018 the Board remanded the issue on appeal for additional development.
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected right radius fracture residuals is remanded.

The Board last remanded the issue on appeal to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right forearm disability.
Upon remand, an undated examination scheduling request was created and a blank June 2018 wrist disability benefits questionnaire form was added to the claims file.  A June 2018 Supplemental Statement of the Case indicates that the Veteran failed to appear for the scheduled examination.  
However, the claims file does not contain a copy of the examination notification letter to verify his last known address and that he was notified about the scheduled examination.  Moreover, a January 2018 Report of General Information reflects that VA attempted to contact the Veteran but his phone number was no longer working.  
As the examination remains necessary, a further remand is needed to afford the Veteran the opportunity to attend a VA examination.  As the Veteran is currently represented by a private attorney, the Board is confident that the Veteran understands that the claim shall be denied pursuant to § 3.655(b) should he fail to report to the examination.  
Updated VA treatment records should also be associated with the claims file.  38 U.S.C. § 5103A(c).
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Ask the Veteran to identify all outstanding treatment records relevant to his right increased rating claim for service-connected right radius fracture residuals.  All identified VA records should be added to the claims file.  All other properly identified records should be obtained if the necessary authorization to obtain the records is provided by the Veteran.  If any records are not available, or the Veteran identifies sources of treatment but does not provide authorization to obtain records, appropriate action should be taken (see 38 C.F.R. § 3.159), to include notifying the Veteran of the unavailability of the records.
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2. After records development is completed, schedule the Veteran for a VA wrist examination to determine the current symptoms, level of severity, and functional impairment associated with his right radius fracture residuals.  The claims file should be reviewed by the examiner.  All necessary tests should be performed and the results reported.
 
C. BOSELY
Acting Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	M. Gonzalez, Associate Counsel