The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected otitis media with bilateral mastoiditis, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the condition is not productive of marked interference with employment to a degree greater than that contemplated by the regular schedular standards.
The deciding factor: The VA's evaluation did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent due to the veteran's symptoms, which were constant dizziness and hearing loss without staggering gait, peripheral vestibular disorder, or Meniere's Syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- otitis media, bilateral mastoiditis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 13, 2004
- Citation
- 0412553
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 0412553.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, otitis media, and a skin disability as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, mood disorder with depressive and anxious features, benign growth of the spinal cord with spondylosis and anterolisthesis, residuals of right ankle sprain with traumatic arthritis, and otitis media, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a total disability based on individual unemployability, special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, SMC based on housebound status, and service connection for vertigo.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an ear disability, diagnosed as otitis media, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), and mastoiditis, but denied service connection for a psychiatric disability.
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