Citation Nr: 19136294
Decision Date: 05/10/19	Archive Date: 05/10/19

DOCKET NO. 16-09 065
DATE:	May 10, 2019

REMANDED

Entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from May 1961 to November 1964. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a March 2015 rating decision by a Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified before the undersigned in a March 2019 Board hearing.

Entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss

The Veteran contends his service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a compensable disability rating. 

In the March 2019 Board hearing, the Veteran asserted that his bilateral hearing loss increased in severity since the Veteran was last examined by VA in January 2016. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of his bilateral hearing loss.

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria. To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and functional impairments due to his hearing loss alone and discuss the effect of the Veteran’s hearing loss on any occupational functioning and activities of daily living. A complete rationale for any expressed opinions should be provided.

 

S. L. Kennedy

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Robert Batten

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.