Citation Nr: 21011561 Decision Date: 03/02/21 Archive Date: 03/02/21 DOCKET NO. 17-34 499 DATE: March 2, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to a compensable initial disability rating for Raynaud's Syndrome is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from January 1988 to June 1994, including service in Southwest Asia. For his meritorious service, the Veteran was awarded (among other decorations) the Army Achievement Medal. These matters come before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from June 2015 rating decision from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) at a Travel Board hearing in November 2018. A transcript of that hearing has been added to the Veteran’s file. This matter was previously before the Board in May 2019 and remanded for additional development. 1. Entitlement to a compensable initial disability rating for Raynaud's Syndrome is remanded. The Veteran currently has a noncompensable rating for Raynaud’s Syndrome. He testified at his November 2018 hearing his disability had worsened. As noted in the May 2019 Board decision, a February 2019 rating decision granted claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and right foot hallux valgus. The Board remanded the Veteran’s claim seeking an increased evaluation for Raynaud’s Syndrome to determine the severity of the Veteran’s disability. The record reflects an examination for Raynaud’s Syndrome was scheduled for May 17, 2019 but the Veteran did not appear for the examination. The Board notes that the RO sent the Veteran correspondence in November 2019 stating that a private facility will advise the Veteran of the date, time, and place of this examination. It is unclear whether the Veteran ever received notice of the examination requested. A written notice should have been dispatched to the Veteran and his representative as to the time, date, and location of the examination. The Veteran has a duty to report at the scheduled time and to actively participate in the development of the claim (unless good cause for the absence has been shown), but is unclear if the Veteran was never given the opportunity in the first place. Veterans, as a matter of law, are entitled to compliance with Board instructions. Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268 (1998). The claim will be remanded for development and documented compliance with the Board’s prior directive. The matter is REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Schedule the Veteran for an appropriate examination or examinations to determine the current severity of his service connected Raynaud’s Syndrome. All necessary studies and tests must be conducted. In determining the severity of the Veteran’s Raynaud’s Syndrome and whether it results in characteristic attacks, the examiner is to explicitly consider and discuss the Veteran’s lay statements regarding his symptoms. 2. The RO must document substantial efforts to schedule and conduct the examination and associate such documentation to the claims folder. 3. After completing the above development, readjudicate the issue on appeal. If the benefit sought remains denied, issue a supplemental statement of the case and return the case to the Board. Evan M. Deichert Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board J. Mouzakis, 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.