The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected otitis media and mastoiditis with hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no active ear disease present in the right ear, but diagnosed tinnitus and hearing loss. The veteran's hearing impairment was rated at level IX under Table VIa of the VA rating criteria for hearing loss, resulting in a noncompensable (10%) evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Otitis media, Mastoiditis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- May 19, 2006
- Citation
- 0614739
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 0614739.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for peripheral nervous system pain, to include rheumatoid arthritis, and granted an effective date of October 6, 2014, for the grant of service connection for left calf and left thumb scars. The remaining claims were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for otitis media and residuals of tonsillectomy, as there was no evidence of continuous suppurative process or aural polyps for otitis media, and no link to hoarseness or other symptoms for the tonsillectomy.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, otitis media, and residuals of dental trauma due to the lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.
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