Citation Nr: 18152299
Decision Date: 11/21/18	Archive Date: 11/21/18

DOCKET NO. 17-17 155A
DATE:	November 21, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent disabling prior to November 6, 2015, and in excess of 30 percent disabling thereafter, for bilateral hearing loss, is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from July 1953 to June 1955.  
This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2016 rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office (RO).
In November 2018, the Veteran testified at a Board videoconference hearing before the undersigned.  
1. Bilateral Hearing Loss
During his November 2018 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that his bilateral hearing loss had worsened since his most recent February 2017 VA examination.  Evidence of a change in the condition or allegation of worsening of the condition renders an examination inadequate for rating purposes.  Palczewski v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 174, 182 (2007); see also Proscelle v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 629 (1992).  Given the Veteran’s assertion that his bilateral hearing loss disability had worsened since his last VA examination, a remand is warranted for a new VA examination.  38 U.S.C. § 5103A; 38 C.F.R. § 3.159.  
Accordingly, the Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to determine current severity of the Veteran’s service-connected bilateral hearing loss.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. With any necessary identification of sources by the Veteran, request all VA treatment records not already associated with the file from the Veteran’s VA treatment facilities, and all private treatment records not already associated with the file.
2. Then, schedule the Veteran for a VA audiometric examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.
 
S. HENEKS
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	C. Lamb, Associate Counsel