Citation Nr: 18157623
Decision Date: 12/13/18	Archive Date: 12/12/18

DOCKET NO. 14-31 446
DATE:	December 13, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
This case was previously before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) and was denied in September 2017.  The Veteran appealed the Board decision to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (the Court).  In September 2018, the Court granted a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR), which directed the Board to consider the December 2016 examination and determine whether a clarifying opinion is warranted.  The September 2017 Board decision was vacated and the claim was remanded.
Having reviewed the record, and taking the JMR into consideration, the Board finds that remand is warranted for an addendum opinion.  On remand, the examiner, or a suitable replacement, should provide an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss.  The examiner should address the Veteran’s July 2016 testimony regarding the frequency of noise exposure and the reported onset of hearing loss in service and the August 2003 lay statement indicating that the Veteran experienced damaged hearing after a tank blast.  
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1.Obtain any outstanding VA treatment records relating to the claim, to include records from December 2016.
2. Obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s claimed bilateral hearing loss at least as likely as not began in service or is otherwise related to service.  
The examiner must address the Veteran’s July 2016 testimony that he experienced constant noise exposure working on tanks in service and that his hearing loss began before the start of post-service employment, and the August 2003 lay statement indicating that he was exposed to a tank blast and experienced damaged hearing thereafter.  
 
K. J. ALIBRANDO
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	S. Vang, Associate Counsel