Citation Nr: 21008518
Decision Date: 02/17/21	Archive Date: 02/17/21

DOCKET NO. 15-06 829
DATE: February 17, 2021

REMANDED

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

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from January 1971 to January 1973. His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal. 

This matter comes to the Board of Veteran’s Appeals (Board) on appeal from a November 2014 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Roanoke, Virginia. The RO, in pertinent part, increased the rating for the Veteran’s hearing loss to 10 percent, effective July 8, 2014.

This matter was previously before the Board in October 2018, when it was remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development. After taking further action, the AOJ confirmed and continued the prior rating and returned the case to the Board.

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

The Veteran last underwent VA audiometric testing in August 2019. In July 2020 correspondence, he indicated that his hearing loss had worsened since the time of that examination. As such, a new examination is warranted. See VAOPGCPREC 11-95 (April 7, 1995); Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997); Caffrey v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 377 (1994).

This matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Schedule the Veteran for a VA audiology examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss. All indicated tests should be conducted, to specifically include puretone audiometry and Maryland CNC speech discrimination testing. As part of the final report, the examiner must describe the functional effects caused by the Veteran’s hearing loss disability.

2. After completing the above, and any other development as may be indicated by any response received as a consequence of the actions taken in the preceding paragraphs, the issue on appeal should be readjudicated based on the entirety of the evidence. If any benefit sought remains denied, the Veteran and his representative should be issued a supplemental statement of the case. An appropriate period of time should be allowed for response.

 

 

DAVID A. BRENNINGMEYER

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Joseph T. Leonard, Law Clerk 

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.