Citation Nr: 21029153
Decision Date: 05/12/21	Archive Date: 05/12/21

DOCKET NO. 18-26 641
DATE: May 12, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from June 1970 to January 1972. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a October 2017 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

In April 2021, the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a virtual hearing. 

Entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

In a May 2018 statement, the Veteran asserted that his bilateral hearing loss disability has increased in severity since he was last examined by VA in September 2017. See May 2018 VA Form 9. He also discussed his difficulty hearing at the hearing before the undersigned. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician 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 necessary for evaluating the Veteran's disability under the rating criteria.  

 

 

D. JOHNSON

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.