Citation Nr: 18151409
Decision Date: 11/19/18	Archive Date: 11/16/18

DOCKET NO. 15-37 825
DATE:	November 19, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from June 1969 to September 1971.  This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a February 2013 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Nashville, Tennessee.
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
The Veteran underwent two examinations, in January 2013 and February 2014.  The February 2014 examiner determined the test results were invalid for rating purposes due to poor intertest reliability.  The examiner explained that the Veteran inconsistently responded to some pure tones and provided half word responses to speech reception thresholds.  In an August 2015 statement, the Veteran contended his February 2014 examination was inaccurate.  Specifically, he stated the examiner included false statements in the examination report.  Because of the conflicting statements regarding the accuracy of the February 2014 examination, the Board finds additional development is required and a new examination is necessary to assess the severity of the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss.  In addition, that examination was conducted over four years ago.  Therefore, the Board finds that a more contemporary examination is needed.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain any outstanding VA records.  
2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA audiology examination to determine the current level of severity of hearing impairment.  The examiner must review the claims file and should note that review in the report.  The examiner should elicit from the Veteran all complaints associated with the service-connected bilateral haring loss disability, to include any associated functional impairment.  Audiometric testing and speech discrimination testing should be performed, including the Maryland CNC test.  
 
Harvey P. Roberts
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	C. Kass, Associate Counsel