Citation Nr: 20049927 Decision Date: 07/27/20 Archive Date: 07/27/20 DOCKET NO. 18-22 276 DATE: July 27, 2020 REMANDED Service connection for dental problems is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active military service in the U.S. Navy from January 1945 to May 1946. On his April 2018 substantive appeal VA Form 9, the Veteran requested a Travel Board hearing. In August 2018, he changed his request to a video conference hearing before the Board. In August 2018, the Veteran was notified by letter that he was scheduled for a video conference hearing. In September 2018, VA received the Veteran’s request to withdraw his hearing. This matter was previously before the Board in November 2018 when it was remanded for additional development. Service connection for dental problems is remanded. As noted in the Board’s prior remand, the Veteran’s entrance examination report shows normal dental; however, his separation examination notes missing teeth with no further indication of whether the missing teeth were caused by dental trauma, periodontal or gum disease, or any other dental condition. A review of VA treatment records since separation from active service documents the Veteran’s ongoing dental treatment, to include the use of dentures. Thus, the Board finds a VA examination is warranted to determine the current nature and etiology of any dental condition. See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006); 38 U.S.C. § 5103A(d)(1) (2012); 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(4) (2019) (holding, in relevant part, that in order to trigger VA’s duty to provide an examination or obtain an opinion, there must be insufficient evidence to decide the case). Regarding the scheduling of an examination, on prior remand, VA scheduled the Veteran for an examination for his claimed disability; however, he failed to appear or canceled the examination, as his private treating physician asserted that it is difficult for him to attend an examination at the Columbia, South Carolina, VA medical center due to having dementia and his wife being unable to drive him. See March 2019 Statement. The Board further notes the Veteran updated his address from South Carolina to Pennsylvania in June 2019. The Board finds a remand is appropriate in order to afford the Veteran another opportunity to attend a VA examination for his claimed disability. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Contact either the Veteran or his representative and verify the Veteran’s current address. Please update the Veteran’s address in all applicable VA databases containing such information accordingly. 2. Obtain any outstanding VA treatment records relevant to dental treatment. If these records cannot be located, the AOJ must specifically document the attempts made to locate them and notify the Veteran. 3. Then, schedule the Veteran a VA examination with an appropriate clinician for his dental disorder. To the extent as reasonably possible, these examinations should be scheduled near the Veteran’s home in Fitchburg, Pennsylvania (e.g., with a contracted private medical facility). If it is not possible to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination closer to his home, fully document all efforts made to schedule the examination closer to the Veteran’s residence and explain why such an examination cannot be held. The examination may be conducted via telehealth or similar service during the social distancing restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire claims file and a copy of this remand must be made available to the examiner for review, and the examiner must specifically acknowledge receipt and review of these materials in any reports generated. The examiner must provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) the Veteran’s current dental disorder began during active service or is related to an incident of service, to include consideration of his missing teeth at the time of separation from service in May 1946. The examiner must provide all findings, along with a complete rationale for his or her opinion(s) in the examination report. If the opinion cannot be made without resorting to speculation, the examiner must state this and provide a rationale for such conclusion. JENNIFER HWA Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Buck Denton 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.