Citation Nr: 20006809
Decision Date: 01/28/20	Archive Date: 01/27/20

DOCKET NO. 18-07 886
DATE: January 28, 2020

REMANDED

Entitlement to a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from October 1963 to September 1967.

These matters come before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).  

The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a Board hearing in October 2019.  The transcript is of record.

1. Entitlement to a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran has not undergone audiological testing since early 2017, has averred that his hearing loss has worsened in the interim, and has submitted evidence in the form of private treatment records suggesting worsening hearing loss.  Those private records do not reflect that speech recognition testing was conducted in accordance with Maryland CNC testing guidelines, which testing is necessary per VA regulations to determine degree of hearing loss.  On remand, a new VA audiological examination must be conducted to determine the current severity of the Veteran’s service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. After obtaining the necessary authorization, update the file with any VA or private treatment records relevant to the Veteran’s claim. If any requested records are unavailable, the Veteran should be notified to that effect.

2. Then, schedule a VA audiological examination to evaluate the current severity of the Veteran’s service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The electronic claims folders should be made available to the examiner for review in conjunction with the examination. Any indicated studies should be performed. The examination should be conducted in accordance with the current disability benefits questionnaire or examination worksheet applicable to hearing loss.

 

GAYLE STROMMEN

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Z. Sahraie, Associate Counsel

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 This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.