The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain with lumbar intervertebral disc disease, nor did it meet criteria for an increased rating for right leg radiculopathy. Service connection for a left ear disorder was also denied.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected conditions were evaluated based on the current diagnostic codes and evidence provided, which did not support higher ratings or service connection as claimed.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain with lumbar intervertebral disc disease, left ear disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2005
- Citation
- 0502238
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,175 · Granted: 22% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0502238.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a left ear disorder and cholesteatoma, finding that the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or resulted from service.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various disorders, as well as a claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to alleged sexual misconduct during surgery. The claims for left hand, hip, foot, eye, ear, and neck disorders are also being remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral median nerve neuropathy, left ear disorder, genitourinary disorder, and digestive and/or gastrointestinal disorder due to lack of medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is advised that he may need to undergo VA examinations to provide this information.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment or care, and the service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death. The appeal for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1310 is remanded due to unclear causes of death.
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