Citation Nr: 1737232	
Decision Date: 09/06/17    Archive Date: 09/19/17

DOCKET NO.  16-12 891	)	DATE
	)
	)

On appeal from the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Boise, Idaho


THE ISSUE

Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.


REPRESENTATION

Veteran represented by:	Disabled American Veterans


ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Tracie N. Wesner, Associate Counsel


INTRODUCTION

The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Navy from September 1954 to September 1958 and from September 1961 to July 1969.  This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a December 2013 rating decision of the Boise, Idaho RO.  

This appeal has been advanced on the Board's docket pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 20.900(c) (2016).  38 U.S.C.A. § 7107(a)(2) (West 2014).

The appeal is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).  VA will notify the Veteran if further action is required.


REMAND

In the August 2017 Appellant's Brief, the Veteran's representative reported that the Veteran's hearing loss disability has worsened since his last VA examination in August 2013.  Thus, remand is necessary to afford the Veteran a new VA examination.  Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997).

As this matter is being remanded, all outstanding VA medical records should be obtained.  Sullivan v. McDonald, 815 F.3d 786 (2016).  Moreover, the Veteran should be given an opportunity to identify any private medical records he would like considered in connection with his appeal.  38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c).

Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action:

(Please note, this appeal has been advanced on the Board's docket pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 20.900(c).  Expedited handling is requested.)

1.  Obtain all outstanding VA medical records from December 2013 to the present.  The Board notes that the Veteran has previously treated at the Boise VAMC.

2.  Ask the Veteran to identify any private medical care providers who treated him for hearing loss.  After securing any necessary authorization, obtain records from any identified providers.

3.  Schedule the Veteran for a VA audiological examination to determine the current nature and severity of his bilateral hearing loss disability.  The claims file should be made available to and reviewed by the examiner and all necessary tests should be performed.  All findings should be reported in detail.

4.  After completing the above development, including any additional development that may be warranted, readjudicate the appeal.

The Veteran has the right to submit additional evidence and argument on the matter the Board has remanded.  Kutscherousky v. West, 12 Vet. App. 369 (1999).

This claim must be afforded expeditious treatment.  The law requires that all claims that are remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals or by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims for additional development or other appropriate action must be handled in an expeditious manner.  See 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 5109B, 7112 (West 2014).




_________________________________________________
STEVEN D. REISS
Veterans Law Judge, Board of Veterans' Appeals

Under 38 U.S.C.A. § 7252 (West 2014), only a decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals is appealable to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.  This remand is in the nature of a preliminary order and does not constitute a decision of the Board on the merits of your appeal.  38 C.F.R. § 20.1100(b) (2016).