Citation Nr: 18151880
Decision Date: 11/20/18	Archive Date: 11/20/18

DOCKET NO. 18-02 066
DATE:	November 20, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a sinus condition is remanded.
Entitlement to a compensable disability evaluation for service-connected otitis media, non-suppurative, right ear with loss of hearing (claimed as ear infection) is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active duty service from October 1954 to September 1957.
A video teleconference hearing was held before the Board in November 2018. 
1.  Entitlement to service connection for a sinus condition is remanded.
The record does not reflect a present diagnosis related to the Veteran’s sinuses.  In particular, the November 2017 VA examiner found the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of sinusitis and noted his problem list only showed on incident of acute sinusitis.  Moreover, the examiner found that any sinusitis would not be related to his otitis media.  See examination.
However, at the November 2018 Board hearing, the Veteran testified he is certain he has a condition relating to his sinuses.  In fact, at the hearing, he reported he was presently experiencing leaking from his sinuses.  He also testified that he had experienced this symptom since his time in service.
Giving the Veteran’s testimony reaffirming his symptoms, including active leakage, the benefit of the doubt, the Board finds a remand is necessary.  Specifically, a supplemental VA examination addressing whether the Veteran has a present diagnosis related to his leakage from the sinuses and, if so, whether the diagnosis is related to his service prior to adjudicating this claim is needed.
2. Entitlement to a compensable disability evaluation for service-connected otitis media, non-suppurative, right ear with loss of hearing is remanded.
At the November 2018 Board hearing, Veteran asserted that his right ear hearing loss due to his otitis media had increased in severity since he was last examined by VA.  The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of his otitis media, non-suppurative, right ear with loss of hearing.
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any sinus condition, specifically leakage from the sinuses.  The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.  
2.  Schedule the Veteran for an examination, to include an audiological evaluation, by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected otitis media. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria.  The examiner must 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 otitis media alone and discuss the effect of the Veteran’s otitis media, non-suppurative, right ear with loss of hearing 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).
 
A. ISHIZAWAR
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	K. Churchwell, Counsel