The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for chronic otitis media and perforation of the tympanic membrane, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that while the veteran continues to have a perforation in his left ear, he denies drainage or infection from the ear canal since the 2001 left tympanoplasty. The highest schedular evaluations for these disabilities are already assigned.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic otitis media, perforation of the tympanic membrane, bilaterally
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 22, 2006
- Citation
- 0626046
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 0626046.
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 veteran's service connection for migraine was granted with an effective date of July 29, 2021. Service connection for chronic otitis media was denied. The claims for chronic sinusitis and chronic otitis externa were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for chronic suppurative otitis media and a noncompensable rating for a perforation of the tympanic membrane, while denying an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for otitis externa.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board granted the reopening of the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded all other issues for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and the reopening of a claim for tinnitus. The tobacco use disorder claim is denied as there is no evidence it is related to active service other than in-service cigarette smoking.
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