The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral otitis media warrants a maximum 10 percent rating since November 3, 1993. The claim for higher ratings was denied as there is no evidence of hearing loss or other complications warranting an increased evaluation.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence of hearing loss or other complications such as labyrinthitis, tinnitus, facial nerve paralysis, or bone loss of skull that would support a higher initial rating under the schedular criteria for otitis media.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral otitis media, migraine headaches, residuals of a fracture of the left scaphoid
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 15, 2004
- Citation
- 0428486
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 0428486.
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 has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between service, including a stick injury in England, and current left eye disability (including amblyopia and cataracts) as well as migraine headaches.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches are productive of very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks capable of producing severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected migraine headaches was granted with an effective date of February 28, 2023.
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