Citation Nr: 19102403
Decision Date: 01/09/19	Archive Date: 01/09/19

DOCKET NO. 16-40 483
DATE:	January 9, 2019

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing is remanded.

Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served in the United States Air Force from July 1971 to August 1975. 

This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2014 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). 

1. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing is remanded.

The Veteran contends that he has bilateral hearing loss which is a result of his active duty service. 

The Veteran was afforded a VA audiological examination in May 2014, where it was determined that the Veteran had hearing loss for VA purposes in both ears. During the examination, the examiner noted that the Veteran worked at a local nuclear facility plant and as a mechanic after service. The Veteran informed the examiner that while he worked at Pantex Nuclear Facility, he underwent annual hearing screenings. The Veteran also informed the examiner of an incident while working as a mechanic where a tire burst near his ear and caused him to lose hearing in his ears for a few days. In May 2014, the examiner was unable to reach a conclusion regarding the Veteran’s hearing loss without speculation.

In July 2016, the examiner provided an addendum opinion that addressed a discrepancy in an audiogram evaluation at the 2000 Hz metric. The examiner opined that the significant decrease in the Veteran’s hearing in the left ear at the 2000 Hz metric was at least as likely as not caused by the acoustic trauma he endured in his post-service employment as a mechanic. Further, the examiner stated that the tire explosion incident during the Veteran’s post-service employment as a mechanic was the cause of the Veteran’s hearing loss.

Significantly, at the time of the July 2016 VA examination, the Veteran reported that he underwent annual hearing tests while employed post-service as a mechanic.  As the current negative etiology opinion is based on this employment and an incident that reportedly occurred while employed there, the Board finds that attempts must be made to obtain this audiological test results, if possible.  The records could document the presence of hearing loss prior to the tire explosion incident.  The Board finds the record contains sufficient evidence to trigger the VA’s duty to assist in obtaining possible evidence to support the claims.  



2. Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded.

The Veteran claims that he incurred tinnitus as a result of acoustic trauma during his military service. 

In this case, development of the Veteran’s remanded hearing loss claim may impact his claim for tinnitus. Therefore, the Board will remand the tinnitus claim as inextricably intertwined with the above remanded claim. See Harris v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 180, 183 (1991).

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Undertake appropriate development to obtain, and associate with the record to the extent possible, any outstanding private or VA treatment records relating to the remanded issues. Special emphasis should be placed on locating audiograms from the Veteran's employment at Pantex Nuclear Facility. All efforts to obtain such records should be documented in the record.

2. If additional records are received, conduct any additional development as appropriate to include obtaining an addendum etiology opinion, if warranted.  





 

G. A. WASIK

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	R. Smith, Associate Counsel