Citation Nr: 18156588
Decision Date: 12/10/18	Archive Date: 12/10/18

DOCKET NO. 18-32 246
DATE:	December 10, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from May 1956 to August 1978.
These matters come before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a July 2017 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).
Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, is remanded.
The Board finds that a new VA examination is warranted to determine the etiology of the Veteran’s current diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
The Veteran was afforded a VA examination in June 2017. The examiner indicated that she was unable to render a medical opinion without resorting to speculation. 
Following the June 2017 examination, the Veteran submitted a July 2017 Notice of Disagreement, contending that his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are caused or worsened by his service connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran indicated that that the ringing in his ears fluctuates in intensity when his blood sugar level increases or decreases. Additionally, in the Veteran’s June 2018 VA Form 9, he posits that while his MOS had a low risk of hazardous noise exposure, he was constantly exposed to noise while flying aircrafts and in his everyday work environment; often leaving his ears ringing.
The Board is required to consider all theories of entitlement to VA benefits that are either raised by the claimant or reasonably raised by the record. See Robinson v. Mansfield, 21 Vet. App. 545, 553 (2008). Accordingly, a new VA examination is warranted to address the Veteran’s theory of secondary service connection for his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Additionally, the opinion should address the Veteran’s lay statements concerning his noise exposure in service.
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Schedule the Veteran for a VA audiology examination. The claims folder must be made available to and be reviewed by the examiner. All tests deemed necessary should be conducted and the results reported in detail. The examiner should obtain information regarding the Veteran's noise exposure during and after military service. The examiner is asked to respond to the following:
a.) Is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, to include noise exposure?
b.) Is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus?
In rendering the above opinions, the examiner is instructed to address the Veteran’s lay statements concerning noise exposure flying aircrafts and in his work environment, as well as the ringing in his ears as it relates to his blood sugar levels.
 
K. J. Alibrando
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	A. Marsh II, Associate Counsel