Long-lasting irritation or infection of the outer ear canal, often causing itching, pain, drainage, or temporarily muffled hearing.
To support a 10% rating, your records should show the three hallmark symptoms together — swelling of the ear canal, dry and scaly or serous discharge, and itching — along with evidence that treatment has been frequent and prolonged. Medical records from a primary care provider, audiologist, or ear specialist documenting repeated office visits, ongoing prescriptions for ear drops or other treatments, and notes describing the appearance of your ear canal are all relevant. Lab or culture results that confirm chronic infection can help establish the chronic nature of the condition. Your own statements, or statements from people who live with you, describing how often you treat your ear and how the itching or discharge affects your sleep, concentration, or daily activities can also reflect the frequency and duration of treatment the regulation requires.
Conditions that are often caused or made worse by this one. If you have any of these, they may be claimable as secondary service connection.
