Citation Nr: 18149356
Decision Date: 11/09/18	Archive Date: 11/09/18

DOCKET NO. 15-29 075
DATE:	November 9, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for a bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from August 1966 to July 1973.
In November 2018, the Veteran gave testimony before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a videoconference hearing.
Entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for a bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.
The Board finds that additional development is needed prior to final adjudication of the issue on appeal.  First, based on testimony given at the November 2018 videoconference hearing, the Board finds that there are outstanding treatment records, which must be obtained and associated with the claim file.  For example, the Veteran mentioned that he had received a VA audio examination within the last three years as part of his evaluation for hearing aids.  These records must be obtained and associated with the claim file.
In addition, the Board finds that a new examination is needed.  The Board acknowledges receipt of results from a private examination in September 2018; however, at the hearing, the Veteran indicated that there might be some confusion surrounding this examination.  For example, a different name, J.W., is used to identify the Veteran.  Accordingly, the Board will afford the Veteran a new opportunity for a VA examination.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. After securing any necessary consent forms from the Veteran, obtain any outstanding treatment records, to include any VA and/or private treatment records, pertaining to the issue on appeal.  All efforts to obtain these records should be documented in the claim file.  If any records could not be obtained, this should be noted in the claim file.
2. Upon completion of the above, schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination in order to determine the current level of severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.  The Board notes that the Veteran has requested that his examinations be scheduled at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Illinois.  The Veteran’s request should be honored, if possible.
For all examinations, all necessary development should be taken.  The VA examiner should be given access to the claim file.  The examiner should state that a review of the claim file was completed.
The examiner must provide a comprehensive report including complete rationales for all opinions and conclusions reached, citing the objective medical findings leading to the conclusions.
A detailed rationale is requested for all opinions provided.
3. If upon completion of the above action the issue is denied, the case should be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures.
 
E. I. VELEZ
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	K. Foster, Associate Counsel