Citation Nr: 18123790 Decision Date: 08/03/18 Archive Date: 08/03/18 DOCKET NO. 16-00 534 DATE: August 3, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from January 1960 to December 1962. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The Veteran asserts that he has a current bilateral hearing loss disability that is manifested as a result of his period of active service. He contends that his hearing was normal, bilaterally, at the time of his entrance into service, and that he was told at separation that he demonstrated hearing loss. He added that he endeavored to re-enlist into service the following year, but did not qualify as a result of his hearing loss. A review of the Veteran’s service treatment records reveals that his February 1960 enlistment report of medical examination revealed that pure tone threshold testing was not conducted, but whispered voice testing revealed hearing of 15/15 in each ear. His November 1962 separation report of medical examination shows that audiological evaluation revealed pure tone thresholds, in decibels, as follows: HERTZ 500 1000 2000 3000 4000 RIGHT 25 20 20 - 15 LEFT 25 20 20 - 15 This examination had used American Standards Association (ASA) units, which was the standard of measurements of pure tone thresholds by the service department audiological examiners prior to October 31, 1967. Subsequent to October 31, 1967, the service department measured pure tone thresholds using International Standard Organization (ISO) units. The pure tone thresholds set forth above have been converted to ISO units. The Veteran’s service personnel records show that following his separation from service, in January 1966, the Veteran’s application to re-enlist was not favorably considered because of a physical disqualification. A record dated in March 1966 shows that the Veteran request for a waiver was not approved because of his gross hearing loss in both ears at all frequencies. A VA examination report dated in June 2015 shows that the Veteran was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The examiner opined that it was not at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss was related to active service. The examiner explained that although the Veteran had reported noise exposure in service, there was only a whispered voice test that was noted at enlistment, and hearing was well within normal limits at separation. The Board finds that the opinion of the VA examiner is of limited probative value as it is unclear whether the examiner was aware that the findings in the service treatment records were reported in ASA units and had not been converted to ISO units. In this regard, there appears to be a shift in auditory threshold from 15/15 on whispered voice test at entrance and a pure tone threshold average of 20 at separation. Also, the examiner did not consider the service personnel records that showed the Veteran did not qualify for re-enlistment a few years after service because of gross hearing loss in both ears at all frequencies. The Veteran’s statements as to the onset and continuity of symptoms since service were also not considered. As such, the Board finds that a new examination is required. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of his asserted bilateral hearing loss disability. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. In rendering the opinion, the examiner must consider the shift in auditory threshold in each ear at all frequencies during active service (noting units must be converted from ASA to ISO), the 1966 disqualification from re-enlistment into active service due to gross hearing loss in both ears at all frequencies, and the Veteran’s competent reports of onset and continuity of symptoms. DAVID GRATZ Acting Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD D. Orfanoudis, Counsel