Citation Nr: 21041662 Decision Date: 07/09/21 Archive Date: 07/09/21 DOCKET NO. 16-58 814A DATE: July 9, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from December 1965 to September 1967. His decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge. The Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned in January 2021. A transcript of the hearing has been associated with the claims file. The appeal was previously before the Board in March 2021 when it was remanded for additional development. In the March 2021 decision, the Board granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. In an April 2021 rating decision, the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) assigned a 10 percent rating for the now service-connected left ear hearing loss, effective October 24, 2013, and evaluated the service-connected hearing loss disability as "bilateral." Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. Subsequent to the March 2021 remand, additional VA treatment records were associated with the record, including a December 2018 record that indicates that audiometry was performed. Although it was reported that the right ear showed mild sloping to severe sensorineural hearing loss, that there was no measurable hearing on the left, and that word recognition score was 100 percent on the right, the numerical results of the audiogram were not included. Rather, the record indicated that the detailed results of the audiogram were under the "Tools menu." The numerical results of the audiogram have not been associated with the record and should be obtained on remand. Savage v. Shinseki, 24 Vet. App. 259 (2011). The Board previously identified an October 2020 private treatment note that showed the Veteran was to return for an audiogram in 2 weeks, and the claim was remanded to obtain additional private treatment records. The Veteran did not respond to a March 2021 letter requesting that he identify and provide authorization for VA to obtain treatment records. On remand, the Veteran should be provided another opportunity to identify and/or submit private treatment records. The most recent VA hearing loss examination was performed in May 2019. The October 2020 private treatment said the Veteran's asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss had gotten progressively worse "over the years" and he was scheduled for an audiogram. It is unclear whether that worsening referred to has been since service or more recently. However, as records related to the audiogram scheduled after the October 2020 treatment have not been obtained and there may have been a worsening since the most recent VA examination, another examination should be obtained on remand. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Take all appropriate action to obtain complete VA treatment records regarding the Veteran, including records available in the "Tools menu," specifically the complete audiogram dated in December 2018. 2. Ask the Veteran to identify all relevant private treatment providers and to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for all identified providers including Dr. G.H. and any record of an audiogram following the October 2020 treatment. Make two requests for the authorized records from all identified providers, including Dr. G.H. and any audiogram subsequent to the October 2020 treatment, unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile. 3. Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to determine the nature, extent and severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. Copies of all pertinent records should be made available to the examiner. All indicated tests should be performed. The appropriate DBQ should be filled out for this purpose, if possible. M.E. LARKIN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Robert J. Burriesci, 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.