I returned my phone on the 15th since there wasn't a clear resolution. I spoke with another Verizon tech rep and he suggested I contact Samsung tech, so I did.
The I chatted with Samsung and here is the chat log:
info: Please wait for a Samsung Agent to respond.
info: You are now chatting with 'Sierra'. There will be a brief survey at the end of our chat to share feedback on my performance today.
info: Your Issue ID for this chat is LTK5640582968X
Sierra: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?
Benjamin Crist: hi, I have purchased a Galaxy Nexus and I have been having issues with it.
Benjamin Crist: Verizon directed me to contact you.
Sierra: Hello Crist.
Benjamin Crist: Please, call me Benjamin.
Sierra: I understand that you are experiencing issues with your phone. Am I correct?
Benjamin Crist: That is correct.
Sierra: Thank you for the confirmation.
Sierra: Thank you Benjamin.
Sierra: May I know the model number of your phone ? You can find the model number beneath the phone's battery which generally starts with SGH, SCH or SPH .
Benjamin Crist: So the issue is that when I'm on a call, at some point during the call the party on the other end is unable to hear me.
Benjamin Crist: I'm sorry, I don't have the phone with me at the moment.
Benjamin Crist: Oh, here is the model number: SCH-I515
Sierra: Thank you for the information.
Sierra: Thank you.
Sierra: I am sorry for the inconvenience caused to you.
Sierra: Let me know from when exactly you are having this issue on the phone.
Benjamin Crist: I'm not sure what you are asking.
Sierra: May I know from when you are not unable to hear properly while on call?
Benjamin Crist: It is random - sometimes it happens right away when I first make a call, sometimes during the first minute and other times I can talk for 20-30 minutes or more and then the issue occurs.
Sierra: I am sorry to know that.
Sierra: Please let me know if this occurs with a particular contact or all the contacts.
Benjamin Crist: All contacts. No pattern with people I call in terms of my calling landline phones, other Verizon phones, or other carriers phones (such as Sprint, AT&T, etc)
Sierra: Thank you for the information.
Sierra: Let us perform a soft reset on the phone once.
Sierra: Please follow the steps mentioned below to perform a soft reset on your Phone.
1. Turn off the handset.
2. Remove the battery and wait for 30 seconds.
3. Reinsert the battery and turn ON the device.
Benjamin Crist: I have done that and it did not resolve the issue.
Sierra: I am sorry to know that.
Sierra: Let us try another way.
Sierra: I suggest you perform a hard reset on the phone. This might fix the issue.
Benjamin Crist: I have done that also.
Sierra: However, performing a hard reset on the phone will erase all the data on the phone.
Sierra: I am sorry for that.
Sierra: As you have tried with all the possible troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue and still the issue occurs, I suggest you get the phone serviced once.
Benjamin Crist: I had the phone replaced with Verizon.
Benjamin Crist: The second unit had the same issue. They suggested I contact you.
Benjamin Crist: If you are unable to help with this issue, can you please transfer the chat to the next support level?
Sierra: I am providing you with the voice support team number here. It is a toll-free number.
Benjamin Crist: You don't have a 2nd level for chat?
Sierra: I am sorry even though I transfer the chat to the next level, there are no other possible troubleshooting steps to be performed as you have done with them already. I am providing you with the voice support team number here. Please contact them and get the phone serviced.
Sierra: They will be able to fix the issue on the phone from their end.
Sierra: You can contact our dedicated Galaxy S phones voice support team at 1-877-EZ2GALAXY (1-877-392-4252).They are available 24/7.
Benjamin Crist: I don't have a Galaxy S phone
Sierra: Yes, however, the support team is same for both these devices.
Sierra: Once you contact them, they will check with the phone and help you further in fixing the issue on the phone.
Benjamin Crist: okay, great
Sierra: I am sorry for the inconvenience caused to you/
Sierra: I am sorry; I couldn't help you fix the issue over the chat. However, is there anything else I might be able to assist you with?
Benjamin Crist: Thank you, that is all.
Sierra: You are welcome.
Sierra: It was a pleasure assisting you. Thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. If you have a minute, please click on the blue