Citation Nr: 20021967 Decision Date: 03/30/20 Archive Date: 03/30/20 DOCKET NO. 17-05 687 DATE: March 30, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for right hip condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for left hip condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for right sciatic nerve condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for left sciatic nerve condition is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from February 1966 to January 1968. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March 2016 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran appeared at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in December 2019. A transcript of the hearing is in the Veteran’s file. 1. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss was confirmed at a VA examination on March 2016, but the examiner opined that the Veteran’s current hearing loss was less likely as not related to in service noise exposure and more likely from his post service occupational and recreational activities, including working around airplanes. At the Board hearing, the Veteran referenced a private medical report from a Dr. Ward, that the Veteran appeared to consider relevant. The report is not currently associated with the Veteran’s file, and so a remand is required to allow the Veteran to submit the potentially relevant record. 2. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hip condition and bilateral sciatic nerve condition are remanded. The Veteran contends he injured his hip and developed sciatica problems from carrying heavy loads in service, but never sought treatment. At his hearing, the Veteran appeared to have difficulty remembering details of his medical history. Nevertheless, it was indicated that he had hip surgery in the early 2000’s. Records from these procedures and records of treatment leading up to them would be likely able to shed light on the history of the underlying problem. These records should be sought. Additionally, updated records of VA treatment should be associated with the file. Lastly, because a private medical opinion dated in September 2019, indicated there was a nexus between current hip disability and service, the duty to obtain a medical opinion in this regard has been triggered. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. With any assistance as may be required from the Veteran, obtain any outstanding VA and/or private treatment records relevant to the claims on appeal, to include the report from Dr. Ward concerning hearing loss, referenced at the Veteran’s 2019 Board hearing; private hip surgery records from approximately 2003 and 2004; and records from the private physician identified in the Veteran’s November 2015 VA treatment records as his prior primary care physician. 2. Schedule the Veteran for VA examinations by a qualified clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any hip disability and any sciatic nerve condition. Any indicated tests or studies should be accomplished. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that any currently diagnosed hip disability, including osteoarthritis, and any sciatic nerve condition had their onset in service or are otherwise related to an in-service disease or injury. (Continued on the next page)   All opinions are to be accompanied by a complete rationale consistent with the evidence of record. 3. After completing the requested actions, and any additional development deemed warranted, readjudicate the claims in light of all pertinent evidence and legal authority. If the benefit sought remains denied, furnish to the Veteran and his representative a Supplemental Statement of the Case and afford them the appropriate time period for response before the claims file is returned to the Board for further appellate consideration. M. KILCOYNE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board B. Jaigirdar, 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.