BVA9507395 DOCKET NO. 93-06 835 ) DATE ) ) On appeal from the decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico THE ISSUE Entitlement to service connection for bilateral defective hearing. REPRESENTATION Appellant represented by: Puerto Rico Public Advocate for Veterans Affairs ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD C. Lawson, Counsel INTRODUCTION The appellant, a veteran, was born in October 1925, served on active duty from November 1950 to November 1953 and was a prisoner of war (POW) of the Chinese government in Korea from September 19, 1951 to August 16, 1953. The appellant appears to be seeking an increased rating for his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder and dysentery disabilities, as reflected by his June 1992 VA Form 21-4138. This matter is referred to the RO for appropriate development. REMAND The appellant contends that service connection is warranted for his hearing loss. He maintains that it was due to loud, high- pitched noises heard from landing planes or from alarms indicating planes were coming toward his POW camp. This reportedly caused hearing losses for two to three days at a time during the period of his captivity. He also had earaches, with gradual worsening and rupture of one eardrum. It is also noted by the Board that the appellant was a light weapons infantryman during part of his service, and he states that he used a machine gun. He also reports being hit on the left side of his head upon being taken POW. He has been suspected of having progressive bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss, hyperacusis, tinnitus, and loss of balance. He also has diabetes mellitus. Service examination reports indicate that the appellant scored 15/15 for whispered and spoken voice tests in August and October 1953. After service, the ears were examined and not noted to be abnormal clinically or by history until in or about 1986. On January 1983 VA examination, it was reported that he had no hearing loss. In February 1984, he stated that he lived close to an airport. It was recorded that he had no hearing loss. An October 1986 Social Field Work Report indicated that he had difficulty hearing. In June 1990, it was recorded that he had had trauma to the left ear in December 1989 with subsequent hyperacusis and tinnitus to the left ear and episodes of loss of balance. In November 1990, he gave a three year history of a progressive hearing loss. In 1991, bilateral sensorineural hearing losses were reported. The question of whether the appellant's in-service experiences, including possible acoustical trauma, caused his sensorineural hearing loss has never been posed to a VA examiner. In the Board's judgment, it should be, given the facts of this case. Accordingly, the case is REMANDED to the RO for the following action: 1. Copies of Audiology and Speech Pathology Clinic records since April 1991 should be obtained and associated with the claims file. 2. A VA otolaryngology examination should be conducted to determine the nature, etiology and symptoms of the appellant's ear and hearing loss pathology. All pertinent indicated tests and studies deemed necessary to make an informed opinion as to the etiology of the hearing loss should be conducted, and the results thereof should be reported in detail, in accordance with the VA Physician's Guide for Disability Evaluation Examinations (IB 11-56 (1985)). The physician should provide an opinion with reasons as to the likelihood that the appellant's current hearing loss is related to any incident of active service, including possible acoustic trauma and/or a blow to the head. The claims folder and a copy of this decision should be made available to and reviewed by the physician prior to the examination. Thereafter, the case should again be reviewed by the RO. If any action remains adverse to the appellant, the case should be returned to this Board in accordance with the usual appellate procedures. No action is required of the appellant until he is further informed. The purpose of this REMAND is to assist the appellant. No inference is to be drawn regarding the final disposition of the claim. (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) S. W. WARNER 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).