http://www.va.gov/vetapp16/Files4/1630427.

txt
Citation Nr: 1630427
Decision Date: 07/29/16
DOCKET NO.
)
)

Archive Date: 08/04/16

10-45 512 ) DATE

On appeal from the

Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Cleveland, Ohio
THE ISSUE
Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.
REPRESENTATION
Veteran represented by: Disabled American Veterans
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD
Jessica O'Connell, Associate Counsel
INTRODUCTION
The Veteran served on active duty from January 1963 to January 1966.

This case comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal fro

In his Substantive Appeal, VA Form 9, the Veteran requested a hearing befor

The record before the Board consists of the Veteran's electronic records lo
REMAND

The Veteran contends he developed bilateral hearing loss disability as a re

In April 2014, the Board remanded the Veteran's claim to afford the Veteran

In October 2014, the Veteran submitted an article from the National Institu
In light of these circumstances, the Board has determined that the Veteran
While this case is in remand status, development to obtain any outstanding

Accordingly, the case is REMANDED to the RO or the Appeals Management Cente

1.

The RO or AMC should undertake appropriate development to obtain the Ve

2.

The RO or AMC should undertake appropriate development to obtain any ot

3.

Then, the Veteran should be provided a VA examination by an otolaryngol

The examiner must presume that the audiometric results from the December 19

Following a review of the record, and in considering the Veteran's lay stat

In providing this opinion, the examiner must consider and discuss the artic

For purposes of the opinion, the examiner should assume that the Veteran is
The rationale for the opinion expressed must be provided.

If the examiner is unable to provide the required opinion, he or she should

4.

The RO or the AMC must notify the Veteran that it is his responsibility

5.

The RO or the AMC should also undertake any other development it deems

6.

Then, the RO or the AMC should readjudicate the Veteran's claim.

If th

By this remand, the Board intimates no opinion as to any final outcome warr
The Veteran need take no action until he is otherwise notified, but he may
This REMAND must be afforded expeditious treatment.

The law requires that

_________________________________________________
Shane A. Durkin
Veterans Law Judge, Board of Veterans' Appeals

Under 38 U.S.C.A. 7252 (West 2014), only a decision of the Board of Vete