The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for status post recurrent mastoidectomies with suppurative otitis media, cholesteatoma, and polypoid lesions is denied as there is no evidence that this disability causes marked interference with employment or has required frequent periods of hospitalization.
The deciding factor: The disability picture does not present such an exceptional or unusual case as to render impracticable the application of the regular schedular standards.
- Claimed conditions
- status post recurrent mastoidectomies with suppurative otitis media, cholesteatoma, polypoid lesions
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 23, 2006
- Citation
- 0608345
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 remands the appeal for further development, including obtaining missing audiograms and addressing CUE allegations.
- Denied
Service connection for the veteran's left ear disorder and cholesteatoma was denied because the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or resulted from service, including exposure to herbicide agents.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial and subsequent evaluations for left ear hearing loss (cholesteatoma) have been denied, with a separate evaluation of 10 percent granted for vertigo as a residual of cholesteatoma/mastoidectomy surgery.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for status-post right tympanoplasty with ossicular reconstruction has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and cholesteatoma.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.