The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claims. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was rated at 20 percent disabling, while radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity were each rated at 20 percent disabling as of June 11, 2010.
The deciding factor: The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was rated based on its current severity, while radiculopathy of the lower extremities were each rated at 20 percent disabling as of June 11, 2010.
- Claimed conditions
- cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2012
- Citation
- 1213163
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 1213163.
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's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.