BVA decisions by condition
Chronic suppurative otitis media: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2018 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a chronic suppurative otitis media issue in 590 decisions. It granted the chronic suppurative otitis media issue in 15.6% of them, below the 19.9% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 34.7%, and remanded it in 48.5%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 31.0% were granted.
Decisions
590
2018–2026
Granted
15.6%
All conditions: 19.9%
Granted on the merits
31.0%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
48.5%
Denied: 34.7%
Chronic suppurative otitis media outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 73 | 13.7% | 41.1% | 42.5% |
| 2019 | 87 | 14.9% | 31.0% | 51.7% |
| 2020 | 75 | 10.7% | 32.0% | 57.3% |
| 2021 | 67 | 17.9% | 35.8% | 46.3% |
| 2022 | 60 | 15.0% | 30.0% | 50.0% |
| 2023 | 75 | 14.7% | 32.0% | 52.0% |
| 2024 | 73 | 16.4% | 35.6% | 49.3% |
| 2025 | 56 | 23.2% | 37.5% | 41.1% |
Evidence in granted and denied chronic suppurative otitis media decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the chronic suppurative otitis media issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 79 | 56.4% | 25.2% | +31.2 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 89 | 54.7% | 24.5% | +30.2 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 52 | 52.9% | 29.6% | +23.3 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 157 | 38.9% | 27.5% | +11.4 pts |
| Lay statement | 467 | 32.1% | 25.0% | +7.1 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 65.2% of the decisions that granted chronic suppurative otitis media.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 35.9% of grants and 16.1% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often chronic suppurative otitis media was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 277 | 27.8% | 34.2% | −6.4 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 439 | 29.2% | 40.9% | −11.7 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied chronic suppurative otitis media
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established13
- Already at the maximum schedular rating9
- Caused by the service-connected disability3
- DC 6200 directly contemplates chronic suppurative otitis media2
Most common reasons in denials
- No current diagnosis44
- Already at the maximum schedular rating18
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim15
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service12
- Current diagnosis established11
- Service records negative or silent10
- Criteria for service connection not met6
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis5
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent chronic suppurative otitis media decisions
Granted
New and relevant evidence received after prior denial.; Report of ear infection during service.; Positive opinions from VA examiner (later) and private physician.; Nearly balanced evidence, benefit of doubt applied.
Service connection granted in March 2021 based on VA examiner's positive opinion.; Severance in September 2022 based on lack of current chronic condition and administrative error.; Board found severance improper due to evidence of in-service diagnosis and active problem in later clinical records.; Original grant not based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE).
Chronic recurrent left ear infections noted; Examiners noted drainage affecting ability to work; 10 percent rating warranted for suppuration
Denied
Evidence weighed against service connection; Only acute treatment in service noted; 2023 onset date from VA examiner; No continuity of symptoms
No current diagnosis in the record; Veteran not competent to diagnose; Lay statements afforded no probative weight
Symptoms did not meet criteria for suppuration or aural polyps; No evidence of hearing impairment, labyrinthitis, or tinnitus; Ameliorative effects of eardrops not considered for rating purposes
Rules that apply to chronic suppurative otitis media claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your chronic suppurative otitis media case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a chronic suppurative otitis media issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2018–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.