BVA9507522 
DOCKET NO.  93-11 255     )       DATE
          )
          )

On appeal from the decision of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in New
Orleans, Louisiana

THE ISSUE

Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

REPRESENTATION

Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans

WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

The veteran

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

Ripley P. Schoenberger, Counsel

INTRODUCTION

The veteran had active duty from December 1955 to January 1959.

This appeal arises from a September 1992 rating decision by the
RO.

The rating decision of September 1992 granted service connection
for chronic otitis media and the post operative residuals of a
tympanoplasty and mastoidectomy, and assigned a 10 percent
evaluation.  By a rating decision of March 1993 the RO granted a
separate 10 percent evaluation of for impaired hearing in the
left ear.  The veteran has not disagreed with this assignment of
a 10 percent evaluation for impaired hearing in the left ear.

REMAND

The veteran maintains that he was exposed to loud noises while
working on the flight line when he was in the Air Force.  The
veteran's service personnel records have not been associated with
the claims folder.  His discharge certificate shows that his
primary military occupational speciality was warehouse
specialist.  The veteran testified that tinnitus began during
service and that he complained of this disorder during service.
All of his service medical records are apparently not available,
as the National Personnel Records Center reported that records
may have been destroyed in a fire at that facility.  Some records
were obtained through secondary sources.  It is unknown, of
course, whether these records constitute all those which were
created during the veteran's service.  The available records do
not contain the report of any physical examination conducted for
separation purposes.

The service medical records show that he was hospitalized from
January to March 1958 and under went a left mastoidectomy and
left tympanoplasty due to chronic otitis media.  Private medical
records show that in August 1990 his right eardrum was punctured
in an automobile accident.  Subsequently, he began complaining of
ringing in his right ear.  In September 1991 he underwent a right
tympanoplasty.  At his personal hearing he testified that he had
ringing in both ears.

The VA examination, performed in September 1991, apparently
diagnosed the veteran as suffering from tinnitus.  The September
1991 ENT examination report contains responses to specific
questions, but the questions are not listed and it is, thus,
unclear exactly what information the examiner was attempting to
convey.  Neither the November 1991 nor the January 1993
examinations mentioned tinnitus as a diagnosis, either present or
not, despite the veteran's complaints thereof.  Moreover, neither
of the latter two VA examinations contains an opinion as to the
medical probability that the veteran's tinnitus is due to the
chronic otitis media treated in service or to acoustical trauma
sustained while serving on the flight line.  In addition,
evidence has been received at the Board of Veterans' Appeals that
has not been considered by the RO.  The veteran has not waived
such RO consideration.

To ensure that the VA has met its duty to assist the claimant in
developing the facts pertinent to the claim and to ensure full
compliance with due process requirements, the case is REMANDED to
the RO for the following development:

1.  The RO should take appropriate steps to
contact the veteran and ask him to submit
copies of any orders, letters he sent home,
statements from comrades in arms, or other
documentation that will verify that he was
assigned to the flight line while he was in
service.

2.  The RO should take appropriate steps to
contact the National Personnel Center and
attempt to secure copies of the veteran's
service personnel records in an attempt to
verify assignment on the flight line.  When
copies of the records are received, they
should be associated with the claims
folder.

3.  The veteran should be afforded VA
audiological and ear, nose, and throat
examinations to determine the current
severity of his hearing loss.  All
indicated tests in this regard should be
accomplished.  The claims folder should be
made available to the examiners for review
before the examinations.  Based on a review
of the claims folder and the results of the
examinations, it is requested that the
examiners express an opinion as to the
medical probability that the veteran's
tinnitus is due to either the inservice
otitis media in 1958 or to acoustic trauma
sustained in service.

4.  After the development requested above
has been completed, the RO should again
review the record, to include all evidence
associated with the claims folder
subsequent to the March 1993 rating
decision.  If any benefit sought on appeal
remains denied, the appellant and
representative should be furnished a
supplemental statement of the case and
given the opportunity to respond thereto.

Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board, if in
order.  The Board intimates no opinion as to the ultimate outcome
of this case.  The appellant need take no action unless otherwise
notified.

          BARBARA B. COPELAND
          Member, Board of Veterans' Appeals

The Board of Veterans' Appeals Administrative Procedures
Improvement Act, Pub. L. No. 103-271, § 6, 108 Stat. 740, ___
(1994), permits a proceeding instituted before the Board to be
assigned to an individual member of the Board for a
determination.  This proceeding has been assigned to an
individual member of the Board.

Under 38 U.S.C.A. § 7252 (West 1991), only a decision of the
Board of Veterans' Appeals is appealable to the United States
Court of Veterans Appeals.  This remand is in the nature of a
preliminary order and does not constitute a decision of the Board
on the merits of your appeal.  38 C.F.R. § 20.1100(b) (1994).