Citation Nr: 18124802
Decision Date: 08/08/18	Archive Date: 08/07/18

DOCKET NO. 15-28 824
DATE:	August 8, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from November 1972 to August 1982.
The case is on appeal from a July 2014 rating decision.
In August 2018, the Veteran testified at a videoconference hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge.
In August 2013 correspondence (VA Form 21-4142), and again in his August 2018 testimony, the Veteran raised a claim of entitlement to compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a perforated ear drum.  The Board does not have jurisdiction over this claim and it is referred to the RO for appropriate action.
1. Entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.
The Veteran seeks a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.  In August 2018, he testified at the Board videoconference hearing that his hearing loss has worsened since the last VA examination in May 2015.  Accordingly, on remand, the Veteran should be scheduled for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of this disability.  38 C.F.R. § 3.327(a); see Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997).  Updated VA records should also be obtained.
The matter is REMANDED for the following actions:
1. Update the claims file with VA treatment records since August 2016.
2. Schedule a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss.  The claims file must be reviewed in conjunction with the examination. In addition to all testing performed, the examiner should elicit from the Veteran all functional impairment related to his bilateral hearing loss.
A complete rationale must be provided for all opinions expressed.
 
D. JOHNSON
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	A. Santiago, Counsel