Citation Nr: 22014243 Decision Date: 03/11/22 Archive Date: 03/11/22 DOCKET NO. 19-15 949 DATE: March 11, 2022 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the U.S. Army from September 1966 to September 1968, to include service in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board acknowledges that the Veteran requested a hearing before the Board in his May 2019 VA Form 9, substantive appeal. However, via correspondence received in December 2021, the Veteran withdrew his hearing request. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he contends is due to noise trauma sustained in service. In December 2018, the Veteran underwent a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss. The examiner diagnosed sensorineural hearing loss in both ears and provided a negative nexus opinion. For rationale, the examiner stated that no change in hearing was shown on entry and separation audiograms during service. The Board finds this rationale to be conclusory on its face because the examiner did not provide an explanation of the underlying medical principles involved in concluding that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise trauma. Accordingly, the December 2018 VA examination is insufficient for rating purposes and remand is warranted for a new VA medical opinion consistent with the directives herein. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Obtain a VA medical opinion from an appropriate examiner to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claims file (including a copy of this remand) must be provided to and reviewed by the examiner, The examiner must opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not (i.e., 50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had its onset in, or is otherwise related to, his active duty service. In rendering the above opinion, the examiner should specifically consider and discuss the Veteran's reports that, while serving in Vietnam, he was exposed to constant noise trauma consisting of artillery fire, without the use of hearing protection. See, e.g., December 19, 2021, Correspondence. The examiner is advised that the Veteran is competent to report his symptoms/history and that such reports must be acknowledged and considered in formulating any opinion. If his reports are discounted, the examiner should provide a reason for doing so. A complete rationale for all opinions/conclusions shall be provided as adjudicators are precluded from making medical determinations. If the examiner cannot provide an opinion without resorting to mere speculation, he or she shall provide a complete explanation stating why this is so. In so doing, the examiner shall explain whether the inability to provide a more definitive opinion is the result of a need for additional information or that he or she has exhausted the limits of current medical knowledge in providing an answer to that particular question. ROBERT N. SCARDUZIO Acting Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Talton, John H. 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.