Citation Nr: 21029053 Decision Date: 05/12/21 Archive Date: 05/12/21 DOCKET NO. 19-16 547 DATE: May 12, 2021 REMANDED A compensable rating for hearing loss is remanded. A compensable rating for right index finger scar on palmar surface over distal phalanx with numbness (herein after right index finger scar) is remanded. A rating higher than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from January 1987 to April 1987 and from October 2001 to February 2011 in the U.S. Air Force. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a June 2017 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a Board hearing in May 2021. A hearing transcript will be associated with the file at a later date. Hearing Loss, Right Index Finger Scar, and Lumbosacral Strain During the hearing, the Veteran testified that his service-connected hearing loss, right index finger scar, and lumbosacral strain have increased in severity since his last VA examinations. Accordingly, the Board finds that remand is warranted to provide the Veteran an opportunity to report for new VA examinations to determine the current severity and manifestations of his hearing loss, right index finger scar, and lumbosacral strain. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an appropriate physician to determine the current severity of his service-connected hearing loss. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms. 2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an appropriate physician to determine the current severity of his service-connected right index finger scar disability. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms. 3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate physician to determine the current severity of his service-connected back disability. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms. The examiner must test the Veteran's active motion, passive motion, and pain with weight-bearing and without weight-bearing. If it is not possible to provide a specific measurement without speculation, the examiner must state whether the need to speculate is due to a deficiency in the state of general medical knowledge (no one could respond given medical science and the known facts), a deficiency in the record (additional facts are required), or the examiner (does not have the knowledge or training). The examiner must attempt to elicit information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of any flare-ups, and the degree of functional loss during flare-ups. If it is not possible to provide a specific measurement based on direct observation, the examiner should provide an estimate, if at all possible, of the additional impairment due to flare-ups based on the other evidence of record and the Veteran's statements. If it is not possible to provide a specific measurement without speculation, the examiner must state whether the need to speculate is due to a deficiency in the state of general medical knowledge (no one could respond given medical science and the known facts), a deficiency in the record (additional facts are required), or the examiner (does not have the knowledge or training). JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board T. Kernen, 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.