The Veteran's left ear perforation of the tympanic membrane is currently rated under Diagnostic Code 6211, which provides a noncompensable rating. The Veteran contends that his condition should be evaluated under different criteria due to symptoms such as dizziness and hearing loss.,The Veteran’s bilateral athlete's foot disability was rated under Diagnostic Code 7806 for dermatitis. The VA examiner noted the use of topical medications, including antifungal ointment, triamcinolone acetonide cream (0.1%), hydrocortisone cream (2.5%), and other topical corticosteroids. The Veteran's treatment with these topical agents is being evaluated for systemic therapy.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide a clear opinion on whether the Veteran’s use of topical medications constitutes systemic therapy, which is necessary to determine if he qualifies for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear perforation of the tympanic membrane, bilateral athlete's foot disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19180823
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,680 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19180823.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal for a higher rating for left ear perforation of the tympanic membrane and athlete’s foot before the Board could make a decision.
- Denied
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- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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