Citation Nr: 18158191
Decision Date: 12/14/18	Archive Date: 12/14/18

DOCKET NO. 12-30 277
DATE:	December 14, 2018
REMANDED
An initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from January 1993 to October 1997 and January 2003 to August 2003 in the United States Marine Corps, with subsequent Reserve service.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2010 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).
In April 2017, the Board remanded the appeal in order to afford the Veteran the opportunity for a personal Board hearing.
In December 2018, the Veteran testified before the undersigned during a videoconference hearing.  
The appeal must be remanded to provide the Veteran with an updated VA examination.  At the hearing, the Veteran provided believable testimony that his hearing loss has worsened since his last VA audiological exam, which was conducted in 2013.  A new VA examination must be scheduled. 
The matter is thus REMANDED for the following action:
Afford the Veteran a VA examination to ascertain the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss, in accordance with the applicable worksheet for rating the disability.
 
 M. Tenner
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J. Smith, Counsel