Citation Nr: 18139588
Decision Date: 10/01/18	Archive Date: 09/28/18

DOCKET NO. 14-40 350
DATE:	October 1, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a disability rating higher than 20 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active duty with the United States Army from August 1967 to July 1969.  This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2014 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Petersburg, Florida. 
Entitlement to an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss
The Veteran is seeking a disability rating higher than 20 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, which he essentially argues has worsened since his last hearing examination.  Regrettably, however, the evidence of record is insufficient to adjudicate the claim and a remand is required.  As an initial matter, the Board notes the Veteran is currently under hospice care, but has expressed a desire for another examination if an increased evaluation could not be granted.  See VA Form 21-4138, dated May 8, 2018 and statement from the Veteran’s representative dated July 17, 2018.  
The Veteran was last provided a VA audiological examination in April 2014, which showed an average of the pure tone thresholds between 1000-4000 Hz of 65 decibels for the right ear and 68 decibels for the left ear.  Speech discrimination scores using the Maryland CNC wordlist were 80 percent for each ear.  However, these results were consistent with only a 10 percent evaluation.  See 38 C.F.R. § 4.85, Tables VI and VII, Diagnostic Code 6100.  Because the Veteran asserts that the severity of his hearing loss has worsened, an additional examination is appropriate.  Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997).
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1.  Obtain all clinical records, both VA and non-VA, pertaining to treatment of the Veteran for bilateral hearing loss that are not already in the claims file.  This should include the complete audiogram results referenced in the November 2013 audiology note.  
2. Then, schedule the Veteran for a VA audiological examination.  The file must be made available to the audiologist for review of the case.  The examiner must utilize the appropriate Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ).
If valid audiometric results cannot be obtained, the examiner should indicate (with clear explanation) whether such is due to some circumstance unique to the Veteran that renders him incapable of providing valid responses (in which case it should be determined whether 

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there are any possible accommodations that would address the problem) or whether it is due to his inability and/or failure to cooperate.  
 
THERESA M. CATINO
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J.R. Bryant