The Veteran's otalgia (earaches) was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service. The Board found that the gap between discharge from active duty in 1971 and initial reported symptoms in 2003 was significant.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's otalgia did not manifest within one year of his separation from service and there is no evidence linking it to any incident or disease during service, including noise exposure. The Board also found that the gap between discharge and onset of symptoms was too long to establish a direct service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- otalgia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2014
- Citation
- 1452193
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 1452193.
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 Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for otalgia, right ear secondary to service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder. Service connection was granted for metatarsalgia with Baxter's neuropathy of the left foot and erectile dysfunction was denied an initial compensable rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an ear condition due to insufficient evidence in the November 2022 VA examination report. The examiner did not provide a clear opinion on whether the Veteran's otalgia is related to his active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of an increased rating for his ear disability, to include bilateral hearing loss, due to further development and examination being necessary.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an ear disability, including bilateral hearing loss, otalgia, and symptoms of ear popping, dizziness, and balance problems. The evidence did not show a nexus between these conditions and his military service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.