Citation Nr: 18147749
Decision Date: 11/06/18	Archive Date: 11/06/18

DOCKET NO. 16-36 296
DATE:	November 6, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from January 1965 to October 1967.
Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
Despite the RO’s characterization of the claim as increased rating for “bilateral” hearing loss, it is unclear whether service connection has ever been granted for right ear. An April 2013 rating decision granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for the right ear.  The April 2013 notification letter to the Veteran also noted that service connection had only been granted for the left ear. There are no subsequent rating decisions or notification letters in the file indicating that service connection has been granted for right ear hearing loss. 
However, in February 2015, the Veteran submitted a claim for an increased rating for “bilateral” hearing loss. The May 2015 denied a rating increase for bilateral hearing loss. Since there is no documentation in the file show when service connection was granted for the Veteran’s right ear hearing loss, it is evident that the Veteran’s claim file is incomplete. A remand is required to allow VA to request these records. 
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
Obtain any outstanding records regarding the hearing loss claims, and associate them with the Veteran’s file.  Thereafter, determine whether service connection has ever been granted for right ear hearing loss.  Specific documentation is required.  If service connection has not been granted, the claim for increased rating should be readjudicated, with consideration of only the service-connected left ear. 
 
M.E. Larkin
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Perkins, Michael