Citation Nr: 18147791
Decision Date: 11/06/18	Archive Date: 11/06/18

DOCKET NO. 18-30 153
DATE:	November 6, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from January 1951 to September 1956.  He also had reserve service.
This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2016 rating decision issued by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Denver, Colorado.
In his May 2018 substantive appeal, the Veteran indicated that he wanted to have a Board hearing.  In July 2018, however, he informed VA that he no longer wished to appear.  38 C.F.R. § 20.704(e).
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
The Veteran underwent a VA audiology examination for compensation purposes in April 2016.  During subsequent VA clinical treatment in September 2017, he expressed his belief that his hearing had decreased and that he was missing more conversation.
The full results of the audiometric testing performed in September 2017 are not presently of record.  However, the available information reflects that his speech discrimination scores were 88 percent in the left ear and 36 percent in the right ear.  Although it is unclear from the record whether the Maryland CNC test was used to obtain those scores, the scores were lower than the scores obtained during the April 2016 examination (which were 92 and 40 percent, respectively).  As such, they appear to at least facially support the Veteran’s assertions of worsening.
In light of the foregoing, additional development is required.  Efforts should be made to obtain and associate with the record the full results of the VA clinical testing conducted in September 2017.  The Veteran should also be afforded a new VA audiology examination for purposes of assessing the severity of his hearing loss.
This matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1.  Obtain copies of records pertaining to any relevant VA treatment the Veteran has received since the time that such records were last procured, as well as a copy of the audiogram underlying the VA audiometric and speech discrimination testing conducted in September 2017 (apparently viewable within CAPRI via VistA Imaging).  Follow the procedures set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c) with respect to requesting records from Federal facilities.  If any of the requested records are unavailable, the claims file should be annotated to reflect that fact and the Veteran and his representative should be notified.
2.  Arrange to have the Veteran scheduled for a VA audiology examination for purposes of assessing the severity of his bilateral hearing loss. The claims file must be made available to the examiner in conjunction with the examination.  All appropriate tests and studies should be conducted and the results reported.
In addition to reporting test results, the examiner should fully describe the functional effects of the Veteran’s hearing loss.
A complete rational for any opinions expressed must be provided.
3.  After completing the above, and any other development as may be indicated by any response received as a consequence of the actions taken in the preceding paragraphs, the Veteran’s claim should be readjudicated based on the entirety of the evidence.  If the benefit sought remains denied, the Veteran and his representative should be issued a supplemental statement of the case.  An appropriate period of time should be allowed for response.
 
DAVID A. BRENNINGMEYER
Acting Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	K. Boyea, Law Clerk