Citation Nr: 21027425
Decision Date: 05/05/21	Archive Date: 05/05/21

DOCKET NO. 17-31 529
DATE: May 5, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from April 1966 to April 1968.  This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a July 2013 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

In September 2019, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge.  A transcript of that hearing is of record.  The case was last before the Board in February 2020 and has returned to the Board for further appellate review.

This appeal has been advanced on the Board's docket pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 7107(a)(2); 38 C.F.R. § 20.902(c).

1. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

While further delay is regrettable, the Board finds that additional development is needed prior to adjudicating the issues on appeal.

 

In February 2020, the Board remanded the claim to obtain a medical opinion    with respect to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by      his service-connected otitis externa.  In March 2020, a VA examiner found that    the Veteran's hearing was normal at enlistment and there was no progression        of hearing loss, significant threshold shift, or auditory damage in service from otitis externa.  The examiner also explained that the Veteran did not have a     current diagnosis of otitis externa and that otitis externa rarely causes hearing    loss. As such, the examiner concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss is   not consistent with hearing loss from otitis externa.  However, the Board finds the examiner did not provide an opinion as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss was aggravated by his service-connected otitis externa.  Accordingly, the  claim is remanded in order to obtain another medical opinion in compliance with the terms of the Board's prior remand instructions.  See Stegall v. West,11 Vet. App. 268, 271(1998).

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Forward the claims file to a VA audiologist to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim.  If an examination is deemed necessary to respond to the questions presented, one should be scheduled.  

Following review of the claims file, the clinician should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was worsened beyond normal progression (aggravated) by his service-connected chronic otitis externa.

A complete rationale should be provided for all opinions and conclusions expressed.

2. If the claim remains denied, issue a supplemental statement of the case.

 

 

K. A. BANFIELD

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	A. Lance, 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.