The veteran's claims for temporary total disability ratings based on hospitalization and surgery were denied as he did not meet the requirements under VA regulations.
The deciding factor: The veteran was hospitalized for cervical radiculopathy, but his service-connected condition was in his lumbar spine. The treatment was unrelated to his service-connected disability.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of lumbar diskectomy at the level of his fifth and sixth lumbar intervertebral space (L5-6), cervical radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2002
- Citation
- 0203331
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 0203331.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of carpal tunnel syndrome in the left upper extremity, and the Board has dismissed this case.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for reductions in disability ratings were dismissed because the proposed reductions were not final decisions and did not include a hearing request.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for cervical degenerative joint disease and cervical radiculopathy, as these issues are related to a previously service-connected lumbar spine condition. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new medical opinions provided.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder. The AOJ is required to obtain new opinions addressing whether the Veteran's cervical spine disorder resulted from in-service injury or service-connected disability, and whether it was caused by or a result of his service-connected knee and/or thoracolumbar spine disabilities.
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