The Board found that the veteran's residuals of umbilical herniorrhaphy do not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as they are characterized by pain with activity and occasional nausea and constipation.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not identify any large postoperative ventral hernia or other condition that would justify a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic code.
- Claimed conditions
- umbilical herniorrhaphy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2002
- Citation
- 0208172
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 0208172.
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 decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating and higher than 20 percent rating for his umbilical herniorrhaphy due to recent treatment records indicating worsening of his condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's umbilical herniorrhaphy is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.
- 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.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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