The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder of the ears as secondary to hearing aids used due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on the evidence showing that the veteran's ear rash is caused by his use of hearing aids for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.
- Claimed conditions
- otomycosis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- September 17, 2008
- Citation
- 0831865
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 0831865.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's skin disease, including onychomycosis of the toenails and tinea pedis with ear infections, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it affects less than 20% of his body or exposed areas.
- Denied
The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for otomycosis and PTSD, but denied both on the merits. The veteran's TDIU claim is also denied as his disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Granted
The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 31, 2001 for service connection and compensation for tinnitus was granted. The effective date is set at June 21, 1996.
- Denied
The veteran died of respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His service-connected depressive neurosis did not cause his death, and he was not rated as totally disabled for a period of ten years immediately preceding his death.
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