Citation Nr: 21031637 Decision Date: 05/24/21 Archive Date: 05/24/21 DOCKET NO. 16-40 483 DATE: May 24, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served in the United States Air Force from July 1971 to August 1975. This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a June 2014 rating decision issued by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In January 2019, the Board remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development. A review of the claims file reveals that a remand is necessary before a decision on the merits of the claims can be reached. The Veteran was afforded a VA examination in January 2014 at which time he was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. The examiner indicated that he was unable to provide an etiology opinion with regard to bilateral hearing loss. In July 2016, an addendum opinion was requested from the July 2014 VA audiologist. The examiner was requested to acknowledge the Veteran's moderate probability of exposure to acoustic trauma in service and the slight shift in audiometric thresholds noted when comparing audiograms obtained at the Veteran's entrance to and separation from service. The examiner opined that the significant difference noted on [current] examination at 2000 Hertz in the left and right ear, with the left ear having a significant hearing loss at 2000 Hertz was at least as likely as not caused by an event after military service (a tire explosion which occurred when he worked as a mechanic after discharge). However, the examiner failed to address the audiometric threshold shifts noted during service or consider the Veteran's exposure to acoustic trauma during service. As such, the proffered opinion is not adequate. See Hensley v. Brown, 5 Vet. App. 155 (1993) (the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims held that an examiner should consider and directly address any shifts of acuity thresholds found in the service treatment records even if the shifts do not amount to a hearing loss disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385). With regard to entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, the examiner opined that tinnitus is at least as likely as not a symptom associated with the Veteran's hearing loss. Consequently, the claim for tinnitus is intertwined with the claim for bilateral hearing loss and should also be remanded. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain a VA medical opinion, from a qualified examiner, as to whether any current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus disability are related to the Veteran's active service. Only arrange for the Veteran to undergo a further VA examination, if one is deemed necessary by the examiner. The claims file must be made available to the examiner. The examiner is requested to review all pertinent records associated with the claims file. The examiner should provide opinions as to the following questions: For each disability provide an opinion of whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or more) that the current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disability had its onset as a result of in-service military noise exposure, WHICH HAS BEEN CONCEDED. The examiner should comment on the threshold shifts between the Veteran's June 1971 entrance examination and his June 1975 separation examination, including upward shifts at 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz of the left ear. A complete rationale must be provided for any opinions expressed. Patrick M. Johnson Acting Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Cryan, 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.