Citation Nr: 20052407 Decision Date: 08/06/20 Archive Date: 08/06/20 DOCKET NO. 11-30 208 DATE: August 6, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected post scaphoid nonunion fracture of the left wrist, to include on an extraschedular basis is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from October 2004 to January 2007. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2009 rating decision from a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) in a video-conference hearing in March 2013. A transcript of the hearing is associated with the claims file. Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected post scaphoid nonunion fracture of the left wrist, to include on an extraschedular basis is remanded. This matter was last before the Board in May 2018. At that time, the Veteran’s claim was remanded based on a finding that the RO did not schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the severity of his left wrist disability as instructed by a previous June 2017 remand. On remand, the Veteran's claim was then denied in a June 2019 Supplemental Statement of the Case, as he was noted to be a no show for a VA examination. The Board notes that in a letter dated June 7, 2019, the Veteran was informed that he would be scheduled for an examination through a private facility who would inform him of the date, time, and place of the examination. The claims file further shows a June 14, 2019 Exam Request which indicates that the Veteran failed to attend the scheduled examination. However, there was no record of the actual notice sent to the Veteran and/or his representative, whether by mail, phone, or otherwise. The Board takes into consideration the short period of time between the letter informing the Veteran that he would be scheduled for the examination and the notice indicating that he failed to appear, taken in conjunction with VA treatment records indicating that the Veteran had been reporting for treatment for unrelated conditions through April 2019. Given this, it is unclear whether the Veteran received notice of the examination and then failed to appear. In light of this, the Board finds that remand is necessary to schedule the Veteran for a new VA examination. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for an examination of the current severity of his scaphoid nonunion fracture of the left wrist. The examiner must attempt to elicit information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of any flare-ups, and the degree of functional loss during flare- ups. To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and functional impairments due to scaphoid nonunion fracture of the left wrist alone and discuss the effect of the Veteran’s scaphoid nonunion fracture of the left wrist on any occupational functioning and activities of daily living. If the Veteran’s scaphoid nonunion fracture of the left wrist results in limitation to the functionality of his left hand, the examination should also encompass an assessment of the functionality of the Veteran’s left hand. If it is not possible to provide a specific measurement, or an opinion regarding flare-ups, symptoms, or functional impairment without speculation, the examiner must state whether the need to speculate is due to a deficiency in the state of general medical knowledge (no one could respond given medical science and the known facts), a deficiency in the record (additional facts are required), or the examiner (does not have the knowledge or training). K. J. ALIBRANDO Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Marsh II, Associate Counsel 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.