Citation Nr: 18145770
Decision Date: 10/30/18	Archive Date: 10/30/18

DOCKET NO. 15-38 602
DATE:	October 30, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
REFERRED
The issues of entitlement to service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and entitlement to an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder were raised on a July 2018 “Veteran’s Supplemental Claim for Compensation” form (VA Form 21-526b). These issues are referred to the agency of original jurisdiction for appropriate action.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from March 1970 to October 1971, including service in the Republic of Vietnam. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a July 2013 rating decision. The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at an October 2018 hearing.

Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
The evidence reflects that the Veteran’s service-connected hearing loss may have worsened since his most recent VA examination in May 2015. For instance, during the October 2018 hearing, he asserted that his hearing loss had increased in severity since he was last examined by VA. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of his hearing loss.
Also, the evidence indicates that there may be outstanding relevant VA treatment records. The most recent VA treatment records in the claims file are from the St. Louis Vista electronic records system (dated to August 2018), the VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Louiseville, Kentucky (dated to May 2015), and the VAMC in Marion, Illinois (dated to September 2018). Any VA treatment records are within VA’s constructive possession, and are considered potentially relevant to the issue on appeal. A remand is required to allow VA to obtain them.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Ask the Veteran to identify the location and name of any VA or private medical facility where he has received treatment for hearing loss, to include the dates of any such treatment. 
Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for all records of his treatment for hearing loss from any sufficiently identified private treatment provider from whom records have not already been obtained. Make two requests for any authorized records, unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile.
2. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records from the St. Louis Vista electronic records system for the period since August 2018; the VAMC in Louisville, Kentucky for the period since May 2015; the VAMC in Marion, Illinois for the period since September 2018; and all such relevant records from any other sufficiently identified VA facility.
3. After all efforts have been exhausted to obtain and associate with the claims file any additional treatment records, schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected hearing loss. The examination should be conducted in accordance with the current disability benefits questionnaire.
 
Jonathan Hager
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	B. Elwood, Counsel