The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral otitis media, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show suppuration or aural polyps in the veteran's service-connected bilateral otitis media.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral otitis media
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 25, 2003
- Citation
- 0303275
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 685 · Granted: 36% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0303275.
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 Board has granted an effective date of October 10, 2013 for the addition of the Veteran's spouse as his dependent to his award of VA disability compensation. The issue of whether the debt in the amount of $19,696.58 was properly created and is valid remains pending and will be remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his current conjunctivitis, bilateral otitis media, chronic fatigue, gastroenteritis, sciatica, and respiratory disability. The claims are being returned for further examination and opinion.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral otitis media, fibromyalgia, and a headache disorder due to insufficient evidence in some cases. The Veteran is required to provide VA treatment records and undergo VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the addition of new VA medical records that have not yet been addressed.
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