Citation Nr: 18145010
Decision Date: 10/25/18	Archive Date: 10/25/18

DOCKET NO. 16-16 926
DATE:	October 25, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from August 1967 to August 1970, October 2001 to April 2002, and February 2003 to November 2003. The Veteran claims additional periods of service. 
1. Bilateral hearing loss disablity
A VA examination dated in January 2014 reported the Veteran had a hearing loss disability. The examiner stated that noise-induced hearing loss was documented during, but not whether it was incurred in, INACDUTRA. The examiner noted that hearing loss existed prior to service in 2001 – mild medium-high frequency hearing loss is listed on a December 2001 service examination – and was not aggravated by service in the years 2001–2002 or 2003. 
The Veteran submitted statements reporting he worked in a very loud environment in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and noted his numerous retirement points and his reserve service was not INACDUTRA, but included multiple periods of active duty. 
The Veteran’s ANG/USAFR point credit summary shows about 20 AD points and 40-50 IDT points in the late 1980s and in 1990-1991 and a period of civilian status in 1991 to 1993. 
The Veteran had 51 AD points and 49 IDT points from September 1993 to September 1994. From September 1994 to September 1996, the credit point summary shows the Veteran is listed as a civil engineer and he had nearly 400 AD and IDT points in a two-year period. Three-quarters of these points are labeled as AD and almost all of the duty codes are special tour, extended active duty, or active duty other.
2. Tinnitus is remanded.
Tinnitus was attributed to noise-induced hearing loss in the VA examination report and therefore tinnitus is also remanded as intertwined with a bilateral hearing loss disability.
 

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
The AOJ shall confirm all periods of recognized service, to include active duty, AGR, ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA.  A report shall be placed in the record.
 
H. N. SCHWARTZ
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	P. Yoffe, Associate Counsel