Citation Nr: 21024629
Decision Date: 04/23/21	Archive Date: 04/23/21

DOCKET NO. 17-27 386
DATE:   April 23, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active duty service from January 1969 to November 1971.  

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2017 rating decision by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).  

The Veteran testified at a hearing before the Board in February 2021.  A transcript of that hearing has been associated with the claims file.  

Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

Evidence indicates that there may be outstanding relevant VA treatment records.  On the Veteran’s May 2017 VA Form 9 he indicated that he underwent an audiological examination in February 2017 at Loma Linda VAMC.  That document has not been associated with the claims file.  Any VA treatment records are within VA’s constructive possession, and are considered potentially relevant to the issue on appeal.  A remand is required to allow VA to obtain any outstanding relevant records.  The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain any outstanding VA treatment records for the period from January 2014 to the present, specifically to include the Veteran’s February 2017 audiological examination at the Loma Linda VAMC.   

2. After undertaking the development above and any additional development deemed necessary, the Veteran’s claim regarding bilateral hearing loss should be readjudicated.  If the benefits sought on appeal remain denied, the appellant and his representative should be furnished a supplemental statement of the case and be given an appropriate period to respond thereto before the case is returned to the Board, if in order.

 

 

Jennifer White

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	Wilson, Bronwyn I.

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.