Citation Nr: 21022267 Decision Date: 04/15/21 Archive Date: 04/15/21 DOCKET NO. 18-40 742 DATE: April 15, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for Meniere’s syndrome, to include a balance disorder or acoustic neuroma, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Navy from February 1967 to November 1970. These matters come before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2017 rating decision by the Jackson, Mississippi Regional Office (RO) of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The Veteran testified at a March 2020 hearing held before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). A transcript of the hearing is associated with the claims file. The Veteran’s claim for service connection for Meniere’s syndrome claimed as a balance disorder, has been recharacterized to reflect that the claim encompasses any balance disorder and/or acoustic neuromas. Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1, 5 (2009). The Veteran submitted a private medical opinion, dated August 2016, from Dr. TE which states the Veteran has an acoustic neuroma in his right ear and that “there are some reports in medical literature that report this tumor is more likely to occur after loud noise exposure. That means that the noise exposure you had in the Navy may have led to the later development of the acoustic neuroma that we diagnosed and recently treated with a gamma knife treatment.” This medical opinion is inadequate for adjudication purposes because it merely states that the Veteran’s acoustic neuroma “may” be related to inservice noise exposure; Dr. TE did not opine as to the likelihood that the Veteran’s acoustic neuroma is related to in-service noise exposure or to his service-connected hearing loss. In August 2018, the Veteran submitted medical articles on acoustic neuromas in support of his claim. The Veteran was afforded a VA hearing loss and tinnitus examination in May 2018. However, this examination did not address the nature and etiology of any Meniere’s syndrome, balance disorder and/or acoustic neuroma. On remand, the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to ascertain the current nature and etiology of any diagnosed Meniere’s syndrome, balance disorder and/or acoustic neuroma. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for an appropriate examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed Meniere’s syndrome, balance disorder and/or acoustic neuroma. The claims file must be reviewed in conjunction with the examination. The examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that any diagnosed Meniere’s syndrome, balance disorder, and/or acoustic neuroma is related to military service, to include as due to exposure to noise in service. The examiner should also opine as to whether any diagnosed Meniere’s syndrome, balance disorder and/or acoustic neuroma is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) proximately due to or aggravated beyond its natural progression by the Veteran’s service-connected hearing loss. The examiner is asked to discuss the medical articles submitted by the Veteran and the statement by Dr. TE indicating that the noise exposure the Veteran experienced in the Navy may have led to the later development of the acoustic neuroma, in rendering the requested opinion. A complete rationale for any opinions expressed should be set forth. 2. Then readjudicate the remanded issue. If the benefit sought remains denied, the Veteran and his representative should be provided with a supplemental statement of the case. The case should then be returned to the Board for appellate review if otherwise in order. WILLIAM H. DONNELLY Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Margaret M. Lunger 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.