The Board found that the veteran's left ear hearing loss and otitis media did not warrant an increased rating under either the old or new regulatory criteria. The evidence showed no more than normal hearing in his right ear, which precluded a higher evaluation.
The deciding factor: The veteran's left ear hearing loss was rated at 0 percent (noncompensable) based on the average puretone threshold of 48.75 decibels with speech recognition of 84 percent, and his otitis media did not demonstrate active infection or suppuration.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ear Hearing Loss, Chronic Otitis Media
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 18, 2001
- Citation
- 0118762
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0118762.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to an unclear employment history and a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for a 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected asthma and direct service connection for asthma. The claim for left ear hearing loss was remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a compensable rating of left ear hearing loss to obtain missing VA audiometric data.
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