Citation Nr: 22017591 Decision Date: 03/25/22 Archive Date: 03/25/22 DOCKET NO. 17-62 585A DATE: March 25, 2022 REMANDED 1. Service connection for diabetes mellitus. 2. Service connection for hearing loss. 3. Service connection for tinnitus. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from April 1966 to February 1970. The case is on appeal from a January 2015 rating decision. In January 2022, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing. The record was held open for 30 days, but no additional evidence was submitted. 1. Service connection for diabetes mellitus. In March 2014, the Veteran submitted glucose tests that indicate the use of insulin. In an August 2014 statement, he claimed that he worked on aircraft that dispersed herbicides while stationed at Udorn Royal Thai Airforce Base (RTAFB). During the January 2022 Board hearing, the Veteran claimed that he landed at Tan Son Nhut Airforce Base in Saigon, Vietnam while traveling from Udorn RTAFB to air conditioning school. In addition, the Veteran's son reported that the Veteran is insulin dependent. The Veteran's service personnel records (SPRs) show that he was stationed at Udorn RTAFB from November 1967 to November 1968. The SPRs also show that he travelled on Temporary Duty from Udorn RTAFB to Clark Airbase and then back to Udorn RTAFB in April 1968 or May 1968. The Board notes that Clark Airbase is in the Philippines. The Board finds that a remand is warranted to attempt to verify if the Veteran landed in Vietnam when traveling between Udorn RTAFB and Clark Airbase. 2. Service connection for hearing loss. 3. Service connection for tinnitus. During the January 2022 Board hearing, the Veteran reported being exposed to noise from jet aircraft while performing maintenance work during service. He also reported experiencing occasional tinnitus during service and being told he had hearing loss after starting work at Western Electric after discharge. The Veteran further reported that he still has hearing testing records from Western Electric. The Veteran's SPRs show that he served as an aircraft ground equipment repairman. His STRs include hearing testing. In an October 1969 report of medical history, the Veteran marked "yes" for hearing loss. The Veteran was afforded an examination for this claims in September 2014. The Veteran reported exposure to noise from jet aircraft while wearing earmuffs during service. He also reported working in office environments after discharge and recreational deer hunting for 15 years as a right-handed shooter. He further reported experiencing tinnitus predominantly in his left ear, but was unsure of the circumstances of the onset. The examiner diagnosed the Veteran with bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The examiner noted that tinnitus is a known symptom of hearing loss and found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely than not due to military noise exposure. However, the examiner did not offer sufficient rationale for this finding. On remand, the Veteran should be allowed another opportunity to identify or submit outstanding evidence. In addition, he should be afforded another examination to determine the nature and etiology of the diagnosed hearing loss and tinnitus. These claims are REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Afford the Veteran an opportunity to submit or identify any outstanding evidence, including treatment for diabetes and hearing testing records. Obtain any identified records with the use of the Veteran's authorization as necessary. If such records are unavailable, the file must be clearly documented to that effect and the Veteran notified in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e). 2. Contact the appropriate service department and/or records custodian(s) to investigate and attempt to verify the Veteran's claim of landing in Vietnam while traveling between Udorn RTAFB and Clark Airbase in the Philippines in April 1968 or May 1968. If more detailed information is needed for this research, the Veteran should be given the opportunity to provide it. 3. After completing the records development indicated above, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the hearing loss and tinnitus. The entire claims file should be reviewed by the examiner. Thereafter, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hearing loss and/or tinnitus had its onset during service, within one year of discharge from service, or is otherwise related to service, to include as due to exposure to noise while performing maintenance on jet aircraft. (Continued on the next page) The examiner should consider the Veteran's 1965 and 1966 audiometric findings as converted to ISO-ANSI standards. A rationale should be provided for opinions expressed. If the examiner cannot provide some or all of the requested opinions, he or she should explain whether it is due to the limitation of knowledge in the medical community at large. RYAN T. KESSEL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board D. Jimerfield 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.