Citation Nr: 21010849
Decision Date: 02/25/21	Archive Date: 02/25/21

DOCKET NO. 15-46 098
DATE: February 25, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to a compensable evaluation for hearing loss is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from January 1969 to December 1972. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2014 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran is in receipt of the maximum evaluation for tinnitus.

Entitlement to a compensable evaluation for hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran reported his hearing has worsened. He was last examined in June 2014. He submitted a statement with his November 2015 VA Form 9, attesting to increased difficulty hearing. The Veteran’s representative filed a September 2020 appellate brief and stated that the Veteran contends his hearing has worsened since he was last examined. Given these statements from the Veteran, a remand is necessary to afford the Veteran a new VA examination. See Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997).

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

Arrange for the Veteran to undergo an appropriate examination, to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

 

 

J. B. FREEMAN

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	J. Trickey

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.