Citation Nr: 18146095
Decision Date: 10/30/18	Archive Date: 10/30/18

DOCKET NO. 16-32 928
DATE:	October 30, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for vertigo is remanded.
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for epicondylitis of the left elbow is remanded.
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for epicondylitis of the right elbow is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active military service from January 1983 to August 1994.  This matter is on appeal from a May 2014 rating decision.
1. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of whether the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss; and, if so, whether it is related to her military service because no VA examination has been provided to the Veteran. 
2. Entitlement to service connection for vertigo is remanded.
The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of whether the Veteran has vertigo; and, if so, whether it is related to her military service because no VA examination has been provided to the Veteran. 
3. Entitlement to initial compensable ratings for epicondylitis of the bilateral elbows is remanded.
While the record contains contemporaneous VA examinations regarding the Veteran’s bilateral elbow disability, the examinations do not comply with the requirements in Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158, 168 (2016).  The examinations do not contain passive range of motion measurements.
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. In accordance with the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(1), make efforts to obtain all records identified by the Veteran, including any outstanding VA treatment records and from Dr. K. referenced in a March 2016 treatment record. 
2. Accord the Veteran a VA examination with a medical professional of appropriate expertise who has reviewed the claims file, to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and vertigo. 
The examiner is requested to review the record and offer an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (i.e., probability of approximately 50 percent) that any diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and vertigo are related to service.  The examiner should consider the Veteran's external otitis and otitis media with associated dizziness in August 1987; report of dizziness in her June 1994 separation medical history; and July 2013 claim showing that she continues to suffer from vertigo after ear infections during service.  A complete rationale should be given for all opinions and conclusions expressed. 
3. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination of the current severity of her bilateral elbow epicondylitis.  The examiner must test the Veteran’s active motion, passive motion, and pain with weight-bearing and without weight-bearing.  The examiner must also attempt to elicit information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of any flare-ups, and the degree of functional loss during flare-ups.  To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and functional impairments due to the bilateral elbow epicondylitis alone and discuss the effect of such on any occupational functioning and activities of daily living.  If it is not possible to provide a specific measurement, or an opinion regarding flare-ups, symptoms, or functional impairment without speculation, the examiner must state whether the need to speculate is due to a deficiency in the state of general medical knowledge (no one could respond given medical science and the known facts), a deficiency in the record (additional facts are required), or the examiner does not have the knowledge or training.
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All opinions must be supported by a detailed rationale.
 
A. C. MACKENZIE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	L. Barstow, Counsel