The Board has determined that there is no probative evidence linking any post-service disorder of the ears to the Veteran's military service, including as a residual of a cold injury experienced during active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a bilateral ear disorder, to include as the residual of a cold injury to the ears, is denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found no credible evidence linking the current right ear symptoms (shingles) to the in-service cold injury and concluded that the Veteran's current right ear symptoms were unrelated to the cold injury during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Ear Disorder, Shingles
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 18, 2015
- Citation
- 1535369
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 1535369.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional development. The issues include knee conditions, shingles, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the legs, and sleep apnea.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome in the right and left wrist, as well as his request for an initial compensable disability rating for shingles, were denied. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the shingles claim during a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for allergic rhinitis, shingles, and tension headaches. The claims for left foot arthritis, chest pain (costochondritis), cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and left heel spur are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, contributed substantially to his death due to acute myocardial infarction. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.
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