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.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Conductive hearing loss of the left ear, Otitis media, Residuals of tonsillectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 12, 2009
- Citation
- 0901187
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,977 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0901187.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's otitis media, left ear was granted a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied any increase in rating.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for residuals of tonsillectomy and resection of benign vocal cord lesions, based on newly submitted relevant service department records.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and otitis media to the agency of original jurisdiction for further development, including obtaining relevant private medical records.
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