Citation Nr: 21070551
Decision Date: 11/24/21	Archive Date: 11/24/21

DOCKET NO. 16-19 657A
DATE: November 24, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from October 1970 to November 1974.

This case is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2019 rating decision from a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

This case was previously remanded by the Board in May 2021.

In March 2021, the Veteran testified at a Board videoconference hearing. The transcript of the hearing has been associated with the record.

The Veteran underwent a hearing loss examination in June 2021. The examiner indicated the puretone test results were not valid for rating purposes due to the conductive component on both sides. The examiner stated it was possibly due to wax occlusion or another temporary issue. The examiner indicated that the Veteran should be retested for valid puretone thresholds when both ear canals are clear.

Accordingly, a new VA examination should be provided to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. See Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400, 403 (1997).

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Schedule the Veteran for a new audiological examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

 

 

R. FEINBERG

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	A. St. Laurent, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.