Citation Nr: 21041397 Decision Date: 07/09/21 Archive Date: 07/09/21 DOCKET NO. 18-17 115 DATE: July 9, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from April 1983 to February 1987. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a November 2014 rating decision issued by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In September 2020, the Veteran testified at a videoconference hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge; a transcript is of record. 1. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. At the October 2014 VA examination, the Veteran was diagnosed with a sensorineural hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The examiner indicated that she could not provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss without resorting to speculation due to the fact that there was no separation audio examination to review in the service treatment records and because of his history of noise exposure prior to and after service. At the September 2020 videoconference hearing, the Veteran testified that he first noticed hearing loss in service, though he noted it was a slight problem at the time compared to the current severity. He also testified that his hearing problems had progressively worsened over the years since service. At the videoconference hearing, the undersigned agreed to hold the record open to allow the Veteran to submit private treatment records identified at his hearing. In October 2020, the Veteran submitted records from his employer which contain audiograms and other audiometric findings dated from 2005 to 2019. Consistent with the October 2014 VA examination report, these records reflect post-service occupational and recreational (i.e. car racing) noise exposure as well as hearing loss present in 2005 with a gradual worsening since, according to P.F., MD. However, to ensure compliance with the duty to assist, the Board will seek an addendum opinion based on the evidentiary record which now includes the newly submitted audiometric records from the Veteran's employer. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claims file and remand should be made available to and reviewed by the examiner. No additional examination of the Veteran is necessary, unless the examiner determines otherwise. The examiner should opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or higher) that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability had its onset in, or is otherwise related to, his active military service, including noise exposure therein. A rationale must be provided. In doing so, the examiner should address the clinical significance, if any, of the Veteran's assertion that he first noticed slight hearing loss in service and the audiology records from his post-service civilian employment. The examiner is advised that the absence of hearing loss pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.385 during service cannot, standing alone, serve as a basis of a negative opinion. D. JOHNSON Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board R. Caban, 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.