The Board has denied service connection for chronic suppurative otitis media as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Veteran's reported symptoms are more likely due to post-service activities.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and opinions collectively found no diagnosis or functional impairment related to chronic suppurative otitis media, and the Veteran has not provided any credible evidence of such a condition during service or continuity of symptomatology since service.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic suppurative otitis media
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2026
- Citation
- 26000301
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 26000301.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for chronic suppurative otitis media to ensure compliance with previous remand instructions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent disability evaluation for chronic suppurative otitis media and denied an increase in the rating for tinnitus. The other claims were remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ear disability, finding that it is etiologically linked to in-service noise exposure. The appeal was successful.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for chronic suppurative otitis media and a noncompensable rating for a perforation of the tympanic membrane, while denying an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for otitis externa.
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