Citation Nr: 18157345
Decision Date: 12/12/18	Archive Date: 12/12/18

DOCKET NO. 17-18 835
DATE:	December 12, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
The Veteran contends that his bilateral hearing loss stems from exposure to acoustic trauma, to include “loud, unprotected noises from weapons and explosives”, while in service.
The Veteran underwent a VA audiological examination in June 2015; however, the provided medical opinion is inadequate because VA examiner failed to consider the Veteran’s statements regarding onset of symptoms during service and continuity of symptomatology after service In Dalton v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 23 (2007), the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims determined an examination was inadequate where the examiner did not comment on the Veteran’s report of in-service injury and instead relied on the absence of evidence in the Veteran’s STRs to provide a negative opinion. Additionally, the Board notes that the absence of in-service evidence of hearing loss is not fatal to a claim for service connection. Ledford v. Derwinski, 3 Vet. App. 87 (1992). Competent evidence of a current hearing loss disability meeting the requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, and a medically sound basis for attributing such disability to service, may serve as a basis for a grant of service connection for hearing loss. Hensley v. Brown, 5 Vet. App. 155 (1993). 
Based on the above, the Board finds the June 2015 VA examination inadequate to adjudicate the issues of bilateral hearing loss. Here, the VA examiner’s rationale focused on the fact that it “has been almost 60 years since discharge” without further discussion, to include explaining the effects of the Veteran’s reported in-service noise exposure.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
Schedule the Veteran for a VA audiological examination by an examiner with appropriate expertise to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss disability.  The claims file and this Remand should be made accessible to the examiner for review. All indicated studies, including audiometric testing and speech discrimination testing, must be accomplished. Additionally, the examiner should consider Veteran’s statements regarding onset of symptoms during service and continuity of symptomatology after service.
The examiner should provide the following opinion:
 
Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to the Veteran’s service?
 
Nathaniel J. Doan
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	A. Hemphill, Associate Counsel