Citation Nr: 18156469
Decision Date: 12/11/18	Archive Date: 12/10/18

DOCKET NO. 15-15 669
DATE:	December 11, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active service from June 1966 to March 1968
The Veteran underwent a September 2013 VA examination in connection with his increased rating claim.  The examiner indicated that the Veteran “would or could not provide reliable test results”, so the results were not recorded and the exam was not sufficient for rating purposes.  The Veteran has asked on numerous occasions for the opportunity to attend a VA examination to attempt to obtain results sufficient for rating.  See March 2014 Notice of Disagreement; April 2014 Veteran Statement; May 2015 VA Form 9.  Moreover, the Veteran has indicated that his hearing loss has worsened since his most recent VA examination.  See June 2016 Statement of Veteran (attaching VA treatment records suggesting worsening hearing loss).  The Veteran should be provided an updated examination to evaluate the bilateral hearing loss.  See Proscelle v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 629, 632 (1992) (holding that, where the veteran claims a disability is worse than when originally rated and the evidence is too old to adequately evaluate the current state of the condition, the VA must provide a new examination).
The Veteran submitted partial copies of VA records.  On remand, the RO should obtain all pertinent, outstanding VA treatment records.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain the Veteran’s VA treatment records for the period from May 2013 to the present.
2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.  If appropriate, the examiner should comment on whether the audiometric scores are inconsistent or not reliable.
 
MICHELLE L. KANE
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Kerry Hubers, Counsel