The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ear disability, to include otitis externa, as the preponderance of the evidence was against finding a relationship between the current bilateral ear disability and service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that there is no basis for a nexus between chronic otitis externa and military service, and subsequent examinations were negative.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral ear disability, otitis externa
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 19, 2009
- Citation
- 0910380
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for peritoneal adhesions following injury or surgery of the stomach and bilateral ear disability was withdrawn by the Veteran.
- Partly granted
The appeal was granted for service connection of left ear hearing loss and OSA, but denied for hepatic steatosis. Several claims were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date for tinnitus but denied increased ratings and service connection for other conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a recurrent neurological disability, including partial complex seizure disorder and headache disability, and a recurrent ear disability, including otitis externa, to ensure necessary development is completed.
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