The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral chronic otitis externa, finding no evidence of aural disease during his military service and no medical opinion linking the condition to service. The issue of an initial compensable rating for asbestosis was also referred back to the RO.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between the veteran's current bilateral chronic otitis externa and his military service, despite acknowledging the diagnosis in 1951.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral chronic otitis externa
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 29, 2003
- Citation
- 0325529
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 0325529.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities. The appeal remains pending.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting examinations to evaluate the Veteran's knee and ear disabilities. The TDIU claim is also pending.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral otitis externa has been rated at 10 percent since April 3, 2013. The Board finds that the symptoms of itching and discharge warrant this rating for the entire appeal period.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is service-connected for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic otitis externa. The Board finds that his combined disability rating of 60% renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.
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