Citation Nr: 21030521 Decision Date: 05/19/21 Archive Date: 05/19/21 DOCKET NO. 16-61 946 DATE: May 19, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served honorably on active duty in the United States Air Force from July 1968 to October 1973. The Veteran also served in the National Guard. For his meritorious service, the Veteran was awarded (among other decorations) the Air Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. This matter comes before the Board of Veteran's Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2015 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran initially filed a claim for bilateral hearing loss in August 2013 and was denied in a July 2014 rating decision. In July 2014, the Veteran sought reconsideration of his claims. In the subsequent February 2015 rating decision on appeal, the Veteran's denial for bilateral hearing loss was confirmed and continued. Subsequently, the Veteran filed his notice of disagreement in February 2015. As the Veteran requested reconsideration following the July 2014 rating decision and continued to submit relevant evidence within one year of the 2014 rating decision, the Board finds the July 2014 rating decision did not become final, and new and material evidence is not required for the Board to review the Veteran's claims on a de novo basis. The Veteran filed his substantive appeal (VA Form 9), dated December 2016, and perfected his appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The VA Form 9 indicated that this was the only issue which the Veteran wished to appeal. Thus, entitlement to an increased rating for erectile dysfunction is not on appeal and will not be considered herein. 1. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The Veteran contends his bilateral hearing loss is due to his military occupational specialty (MOS) in-service. The Veteran was an Air Force Officer and Command Pilot. He reported that personnel on flying status did not always have hearing protection and it was not practice or safe to wear in an operational and combat environment. The Veteran stated that in-service, he was exposed to active runways and aircraft running their engines, doing pre-flight work, and taxing out to take off. The Veteran reported he has had hearing loss since separation from active service. The Veteran underwent a VA examination in May 2014. The examiner concluded the Veteran has hearing loss but reported the Veteran's hearing at induction and separation were within normal limits. The VA examiner concluded the Veteran's hearing loss was not caused by or a result of an event in-service. The VA examiner did not address the Veteran's lay statements or his MOS. The Board finds the 2014 VA examination to be inadequate. As the VA examination did not consider all the evidence of record, the Board finds that it is inadequate, a new VA opinion must be obtained. Dalton v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 23 (2007); Nieves-Rodriguez v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 295 (2008). The Veteran provided private records from a private audiologist. While this documents the Veteran's hearing loss, it does not link the Veteran's hearing loss to his active service and is not sufficient to grant service connection. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. It is left to the discretion of the examiner as to whether an examination of the Veteran is needed. The examiner must opine whether bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including the Veteran's in-service noise exposure, MOS, and lay statements. The examiner must note that, under applicable law, the absence of in-service evidence of a hearing loss disability is not always fatal to a service connection claim. Evidence of a current hearing disability and a medically sound basis for attributing that disability to service may serve as a basis for a grant of service connection for hearing loss where there is credible evidence of acoustic trauma due to significant noise exposure in service. A complete rationale for all opinions must be provided. Evan M. Deichert Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board J. Mouzakis, 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.