The Board found that the veteran's otosclerosis in the right ear with hearing loss and tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim for otosclerosis in the left ear with hearing loss and tinnitus could not be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not establish a link between the veteran's current otosclerosis in the right ear with hearing loss and tinnitus and his period of service. The Board also found that the submitted evidence was insufficient to reopen the claim for otosclerosis in the left ear with hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Claimed conditions
- otosclerosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 26, 2002
- Citation
- 0206875
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0206875.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected hearing impairment, including otosclerosis and BPPV with left ear hearing loss, is now rated at 100 percent effective March 14, 2024.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to outstanding service treatment records and the need for additional VA medical opinions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will consider any additional VA treatment records that may be relevant.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the January 2023 remand order and thus, the Veteran's claims for service connection for eustachian tube dysfunction, otitis externa, and otosclerosis on a secondary basis as it's related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for further development.
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