Citation Nr: 21022724 Decision Date: 04/19/21 Archive Date: 04/19/21 DOCKET NO. 15-01 809 DATE: April 19, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from May 1976 to May 1979. The matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2014 rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In April 2018, the Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A copy of the proceeding is associated with the electronic claims file. In June 2018, the Board reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the matter for further development. Service Connection for Bilateral Hearing Loss. The Board remanded this claim in June 2018 for a VA examination. Specifically, the Board noted that the Veteran had yet to have an examination with valid audiometry results, and no VA examiner had opined as to whether any diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is due to in-service acoustic trauma. The Veteran was scheduled for a VA Health Administration examination; however, that examination was canceled after notification was received from the Veteran that he preferred to have a contract examination. Accordingly, an examination with a contractor was scheduled in March 2019, which the Veteran missed. The EMS cancelation notice indicated that the Veteran was unavailable. A March 2019 report of general information indicated that the Veteran was undergoing treatment for cancer and was not sure when he would be available for an examination. The file does not contain any further attempts to reschedule the Veteran for the requested examination. The Veteran’s representative has requested remand to reschedule the examination. Based on the evidence of record and the Veteran’s representative’s statements, the Board finds the Veteran has demonstrated good cause for not attending his examination. 38 C.F.R. § 3.655. Accordingly, on remand, the Veteran should be scheduled for another examination. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain updated VA treatment records. 2. Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral hearing loss. Following a review of the claims file, the examiner is asked to opine whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss is related to service, to include in-service acoustic trauma. (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) A complete rationale must be provided for all opinions expressed. If an opinion cannot be offered without resort to mere speculation, the examiner must indicate why this is the case and what additional evidence, if any, would allow for a more definitive opinion. Nathaniel J. Doan Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board C. Robinson, 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.