Citation Nr: 18142082
Decision Date: 10/12/18	Archive Date: 10/12/18

DOCKET NO. 16-36 488
DATE:	October 12, 2018
REMANDED
The issue of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for left ear hearing loss disability is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from March 1981 to December 1989.     
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2015 rating decision issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Denver, Colorado. 
The issue of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for left ear hearing loss disability is remanded.
In a September 2016 statement contesting the assigned rating for hearing loss disability, the Veteran stated that his hearing had worsened since the most recent VA audiology examination in April 2015.  He should be provided a new examination into his claim for a higher initial rating.  See Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 121 (1991).


The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Undertake appropriate development to obtain any outstanding records pertinent to the Veteran’s claim.  Include in the record any outstanding VA treatment records, the most recent of which are dated in February 2016.  All records/responses received must be associated with the electronic claims file. 
2. Schedule a VA audiology examination to determine the nature and severity of hearing loss disability in the left ear.  Any and all indicated studies deemed necessary by the examiner should be accomplished. 

 
Biswajit Chatterjee
Acting Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Christopher McEntee, Counsel