The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for pilonidal disease, finding that his preexisting condition did not worsen during service.
The deciding factor: The inactive pilonidal sinus noted at entry into service was a pre-existing condition and did not worsen beyond its natural progression during service.
- Claimed conditions
- pilonidal disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 7, 2002
- Citation
- 0204180
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 0204180.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records from his National Guard service dating after April 2006 and updated VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for further adjudication.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefit records and reserve service treatment records.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the veteran's pilonidal disease was a preexisting condition and not aggravated by service. Therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for residuals of pilonidal disease.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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