Citation Nr: 22016553
Decision Date: 03/22/22	Archive Date: 03/22/22

DOCKET NO. 17-55 486
DATE: March 22, 2022

REMANDED

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from July 1971 to July 1975.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2014 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran contends that his bilateral hearing loss disability was caused by in-service noise exposure in his work as a firearms instructor. However, the record in this case contains no evidence of a hearing loss disability pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.385 during service or within one year of separation from service. The first indication in the record that the Veteran met the criteria for a hearing loss disability pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.385 was in April 2014, on audiological testing conducted during a VA examination.

The April 2014 VA examiner opined that the Veteran's hearing loss was less likely than not related to service, stating as rationale only that the Veteran's hearing was normal on his entrance and exit audiograms. However, hearing loss need not be shown in service for service connection to be established, if there is competent evidence linking the condition to service. The Board finds that an addendum opinion is needed.  

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain an addendum medical opinion on the claim for service connection. After a review of the claims file, the examiner should provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not (an approximate balance) that the Veteran's hearing loss is etiologically related to service. The examiner should explain why or why not, to include explaining why the Veteran's hearing loss is or is not a delayed residual of conceded exposure to excessive noise during service. 

2. If the claim remains denied, issue a supplemental statement of the case.

 

 

K. A. BANFIELD

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	M. Jesteadt, 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.