Citation Nr: 21064072
Decision Date: 10/19/21	Archive Date: 10/19/21

DOCKET NO. 19-26 052A
DATE: October 19, 2021

REMANDED

A compensable rating for degenerative vitreous (previously rated as conjunctivitis) is remanded.

A rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from June 1976 to December 1979.

This matter comes to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from February 2017 and October 2017 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

The Veteran testified at a video conference hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in March 2021.  A transcript of the hearing is associated with the claims file.

1. A compensable rating for bilateral eye disability is remanded.

At his March 2021 hearing, the Veteran testified that his bilateral eye disability had increased in severity since he was last examined by VA in October 2018.  The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected bilateral eye disability.

2. A rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

At his March 2021 hearing, the Veteran testified that his hearing loss had increased in severity since he was last examined by VA in December 2018.  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 matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected vitreous degeneration (previously diagnosed as conjunctivitis).  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.

In so doing, the examiner should comment on the Veteran's reports of floaters and flashes that temporarily further restrict his vision; specifically, the extent to which these episodes cause additional vision impairment.

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2. 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.

3. Readjudicate the appeal.

 

 

M. E. KILCOYNE

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	B. Houbeck

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.