Citation Nr: 18157540
Decision Date: 12/12/18	Archive Date: 12/12/18

DOCKET NO. 14-35 009A
DATE:	December 12, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from April 1971 until April 1973. 
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans Appeals (Board) from a June 2013 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Los Angeles, California.  
The Veteran was afforded a VA examination for his service-connected hearing loss in October 2012. However, in a March 2013 hearing, the Veteran asserted that his hearing disability has worsened since his last VA examination. See March 2013 Hearing Transcript. Given the Veteran’s statement, he should be afforded an updated VA examination to address his claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. See Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400, 403 (1997). 
Accordingly, the claim is REMANDED for the following actions:
1. Schedule a VA examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.  The examiner must be provided access to the electronic claims file and he or she must indicate review of the electronic claims file in the examination report.  Puretone audiometry and Maryland CNC controlled speech discrimination test results must be provided in the report.  The examiner also must provide a full description of all functional deficits caused by the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.  If no such deficits are found, this should be explained.
2. Then, readjudicate the Veteran’s claim on appeal.  If the benefit sought on appeal remains denied, the Veteran and his representative should be provided a supplemental statement of the case.  Allow an appropriate period of time for response.
 
L. Chu
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Mahlet Makonnen, Law Clerk