Medical evidence is essential in all VA disability claims. For many veterans, this medical evidence comes from examinations by VA providers and VA contractors. Without these exams, many claims would be denied.
Simply put, VA examinations can make or break your VA disability claim.
But, in most cases, you do not have control over when the exam will be scheduled, and if you miss it, it could cost you time and benefits.
In this article, we will discuss how to reschedule an examination, if necessary, and then, what to do if you miss your VA exam.
How to Reschedule a VA Examination
Once the VA has scheduled you for an exam, you should make every effort to attend the exam.
If the VA schedules you for an exam, but you cannot attend, call the VA medical center or contractor at least 48 hours in advance. Also, submit a written statement explaining the reason you need to reschedule and request a new examination.
To reschedule, call the number on your appointment letter:
- For Loyal Source Government Services (LSGS), call 833-832-7077 (TTY: 711). Caller ID will show “Loyal Source.”
- For OptumServe Health Services (OSHS), call 866-933-8387. Caller ID will show “VA EXAM-Optum.”
- For Leidos QTC Health Services (QTC), call 800-682-9701. Caller ID will show “VA EXAM-QTC.”
- For Veterans Evaluation Services (VES), call 877-637-8387. If you’re outside the continental U.S., call +1-713-255-5656. Caller ID will show “VA EXAM-VES.”
Or call the VA hotline at 800-827-1000, the hotline is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.
If your exam is with a contractor, you can only reschedule once per exam. The new appointment must be within 5 days of the original appointment. If you’re not available during those 5 days, tell the contractor, then call the VA at 800-827-1000 and the VA will start the scheduling process again when you are available.
What To Do If You Miss Your VA Exam
Unfortunately, things happen and you might miss a VA examination. This can result in the delay of benefits, so it is best to get in touch with the VA immediately after missing an exam.
In most cases, you’ll want the VA to schedule a new exam. To do this, you must establish a good reason, or “good cause,” for missing the first exam.
Some examples of good cause include:
- If someone in your immediate family dies
- If you’re sick
- If you’re homeless
- If you’re hospitalized
You can let the VA know your good cause for missing your exam using one of the following ways:
- Call the VA hotline at 800-827-1000, the hotline is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.
- Upload a letter online using the VA’s claim status tool
- Mail a letter to this address:
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Evidence Intake Center
- PO Box 4444
- Janesville, WI 53547-4444
Will the VA Decide Your Case Without Rescheduling the Exam?
If you cannot reschedule the exam, or show good cause for missing it, the VA will move ahead with deciding your claim. Whether the VA will deny the claim depends on the type of claim it is.
If your exam was for an original claim, the VA will rate, or assess the severity of, the condition based on the other evidence in your record.
If your exam was for a supplemental claim for a benefit that was previously denied, or a claim for an increased rating, your claim will be denied.
If your exam was a reexamination to determine whether you should continue receiving benefits, the VA will issue a pretermination notice, letting you know that your current benefits might be discontinued or reduced. The pretermination notice will include the prospective date of the discontinuance or reduction, the reason for the change, and a statement of your procedural and appellate rights.
After the pretermination notice, you will have 60 days to indicate your willingness to report for a reexamination or to present evidence that benefits for the disability for which the exam was scheduled should not be discontinued or reduced. If you don’t respond sufficiently in the 60 days, the benefits will be discontinued or reduced. However, if you let the VA know that you are willing to report for a reexam, the VA will reschedule the exam.
Contact Vets National Advocates
If you were recently denied VA disability benefits because of an inadequate VA medical examination or inadequate medical evidence in your record, you may want to appeal the VA’s denial. Vets National is here to help you through the VA appeals process. Contact Vets National today, at 877-777-4021.
