Citation Nr: 18145044
Decision Date: 10/26/18	Archive Date: 10/25/18

DOCKET NO. 16-26 663
DATE:	October 26, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded.
REASONS AND BASES FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from August 1983 to June 1986.  
This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal of a December 2014 rating decision of the Denver, Colorado, Regional Office (RO) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 
1. Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.
2. Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded.
The Veteran appeared for a VA examination in September 2014.  No bilateral hearing loss disability was found for VA compensation purposes.
Since September 2014, the Veteran has complained of hearing loss and VA treatment records note hearing loss, although without containing audiometric readings.  Giving the Veteran the benefit of the doubt, a new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from hearing loss for VA compensation purposes, as related to his service.  In rendering an etiology opinion, the examiner will be asked to consider the October 1983 service treatment record (STR) which notes the Veteran is unable to distinguish code characters and notes left ear scarring.  The RO has conceded noise exposure.
As the claim for service connection of tinnitus is inextricably intertwined with the service connection of bilateral hearing loss claim, adjudication on this matter is deferred.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain all outstanding VA clinical records and give the Veteran the opportunity to identify any private treatment records for association with the claims file.  All records/responses received must be associated with the claims file.  
2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.  The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including conceded in-service noise exposure.
In rendering an etiology opinion, the examiner is asked to consider the October 1983 STR which notes the Veteran is unable to distinguish code characters and left ear scarring. 
3. After the above is complete, readjudicate the Veteran’s claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.  If a complete grant of the benefits requested is not granted, issue a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) to the Veteran and his representative to afford them the opportunity to respond before the case is returned to the Board.

 
KRISTI L. GUNN
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	K. M. Georgiev