Citation Nr: 21023149
Decision Date: 04/20/21	Archive Date: 04/20/21

DOCKET NO. 17-27 993
DATE: April 20, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to an increased rating, in excess of 10 percent, for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from June 1956 to July 1964, with additional Air Force Reserve service.

This appeal has been advanced on the Board's docket pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 20.900(c). 38 U.S.C. § 7107(a)(2).

The Veteran testified at his March 2021 Board hearing that since his last VA examination in March 2016 his hearing loss had increased in severity to the point of requiring hearing aids. The Veteran also testified that he recently underwent an audiogram in January 2021. A copy of the January 2021 audiogram must be associated with the Veteran’s claims file. Otherwise, a new VA examination is needed to adequately address the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Contact the Veteran, and, with the Veteran’s assistance identify and obtain copies of any pertinent medical or VA treatment records, to specifically include the January 2021 audiogram (referred to in the March 2021 Board hearing), and any other private facility in which the Veteran obtained treatment. If VA attempts to obtain any outstanding records which are unavailable, the Veteran should be notified.

2. In the event that the January 2021 audiogram is unavailable, schedule the Veteran for the appropriate VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. Copies of all pertinent medical records should be made available to the examiner for review. All necessary diagnostic testing should be performed using the appropriate DBQ.

 

 

M.E. Larkin

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.