Citation Nr: 21000322 Decision Date: 01/05/21 Archive Date: 01/05/21 DOCKET NO. 16-26 510 DATE: January 5, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 0 percent for hemorrhoids is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND 1. Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded. The Veteran asserts that he is entitled to service connection for tinnitus because the claimed disability arose in-service. More specifically, at the July 2019 hearing before the Board, the Veteran testified that he has experienced ringing of the ears continuously since service. In a January 2019 VA examination, the examiner noted that the Veteran did not report tinnitus. However, the Board notes that the evidence of record shows ongoing complaints of tinnitus throughout the duration of this appeal, including at the hearing that occurred after the VA examination. Therefore, the Board finds that the VA examination did not consider a complete history of lay statements regarding symptoms, and further examination is necessary. 2. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 0 percent for hemorrhoids is remanded. During the hearing before the Board, the Veteran asserted that the hemorrhoid disability had worsened. The Veteran has not had a VA examination since February 2017. As a result of the duration of time since the prior examination, and because the Veteran has asserted worsening symptoms, additional examination is necessary. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for a VA audiology examination to determine the etiology of tinnitus. The examiner must review the claims file and should note that review in the report. All indicated tests and studies should be accomplished and the findings then reported in detail. The examiner should provide a rationale for all opinions provided. The examiner should opine as to whether it is as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that tinnitus had its onset during active service, is related to noise exposure in service, or is otherwise related to service or any event, disease, or injury during service. The examiner should opine as to whether it is as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that tinnitus is caused by or due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The examiner should opine as to whether it is as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that tinnitus has been aggravated (increased in severity beyond the natural progress of the disorder) by service-connected bilateral hearing loss. If the examiner determines that tinnitus is not the result of active service or a service-connected disability, but should be attributed to some other cause, the examiner should so state, taking into account the Veteran’s full post-service work and medical history. The basis of the opinion cannot be that hearing was normal at separation, without an explanation of why that is significant. The examiner must consider and discuss the significance of the Veteran’s lay statements regarding tinnitus symptoms during and since service. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of service-connected hemorrhoids. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the disability under the rating criteria. The examiner should state whether or not the hemorrhoids are mild, moderate, large, thrombotic, irreducible, with excessive redundant tissue, evidence frequent recurrences, cause persistent bleeding, cause anemia, or cause fissures. Harvey P. Roberts Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board K. Cross, 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.